Piab Pump Unit Lifts More with Less

Piab has continued to evolve its piCOBOT program by adding the piCOBOT-L vacuum pump unit.

Developed for customers who work with small industrial robots and cobots, its high payload combined with a low building height enables maximum capacity usage. With a lifting capability up to 35 pounds, the piCOBOT-L is particularly attractive for e-commerce, logistics, and warehouse applications, and for assisting with lifting heavier items in production. 

It builds on the same technology platform as the original version; i.e., it consists of a vacuum pump unit and an optional gripper unit. The vacuum pump unit is scalable and can be equipped with the newest powerful COAX cartridge. Offering a significantly higher vacuum performance, it enables fast movement when lifting heavier items for high productivity in packaging and palletizing, part assembly, or machine tending.

Its high vacuum flow further facilitates the deployment of large Kenos foam grippers that can lift a broad variety of objects, from single large and heavy ones to a multitude of small ones simultaneously. The piCOBOT-L is also an excellent platform for customized end effectors, developed either by Piab’s custom line specialists or by customers and system integrators themselves. Thanks to the vacuum connection at the bottom of the pump, no extra cabling is required when attaching a different gripper unit.

While the piCOBOT-L allows manual gripper changes and dissembling the tool from the pump unit, the requirement to speed up tool changes called for an automated process to ensure continuous operations. Hence, the most important addition is its optional automatic tool changer combined with a docking station for further end effectors. The automatic tool changer is equipped with a lever to lock or unlock the adapter plate of the end effector. The lever can be opened and closed automatically by the docking station to remove a gripping unit from the cobot, and pick up and connect a different one without human interference. Alternatively, the gripper switch at the tool changer can also take place manually.

For more information, visit www.piab.com.