{
  "abstract": "An end effector for vacuum end-of-arm tooling with compliant bellows cups is described. The tool comprises a tool-change interface (10), a bellows cup (12), a vacuum pump (14), a isolation valve (16), a manifold (18), and a contact detector (20), a pressure sensor (22), a blow-off valve (24). The arrangement addresses handling workpieces that do not cover the whole gripping face, where an uncovered suction cup is an open leak, and one open leak pulls the whole circuit towards atmosphere, so a tool sized for the largest workpiece loses grip on the smallest. The description covers which part of the circuit is cut, what keeps its own vacuum while the cut is made, and what the remaining zones do while one zone is isolated. Every connection is stated with the medium it carries, and the operating sequence is given as conditions on named operations.",
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  "categories": [
    "robotics-automation/end-effectors/vacuum-grippers",
    "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/sealing-and-suction-pads",
    "lifting-positioning-manipulation/vacuum-lifting/vacuum-safety-systems",
    "sensors-controls-machine-vision/position-and-presence-sensing/inductive-sensors"
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    "words": 2013
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      "caption": "Block diagram of the tool, with the medium carried by each connection.",
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      "number": "FIG-001",
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    {
      "caption": "Elevation of the gripping face on its mounting.",
      "file": "figures/fig-002.svg",
      "number": "FIG-002",
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      "caption": "Signal path between the controlled elements and the cell controller.",
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  "keywords": [
    "bellows cup",
    "blow-off valve",
    "contact detector",
    "isolation valve",
    "manifold",
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    "tool-change interface",
    "zoned isolation",
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  "published_at": "2026-09-16T07:27:58.707104Z",
  "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited",
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  "title": "Bellows cup vacuum gripper, per zone isolation, three outlet manifold, pump fed, pressure verified",
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