Grippers are available in a wide range of designs. Each gripper is designed for a specific load, load shape or application. The more different loads and load geometries that need to be moved within a value chain, the more different gripper types the user needs to keep in stock. This is associated with high costs. The need to select different grippers based on different load shapes and load weights often requires extensive research and a great deal of time. The complexity of this process is further increased by the wide variety of grippers available on the market.
Each gripper requires individual operation and different requirements must be taken into account. This can be particularly challenging if a user needs to be familiar with the specific application possibilities of each individual gripper. In addition to the cost-intensive purchase of different grippers, their respective maintenance requirements must also be taken into account. In order to minimise these challenges, it can make sense to select universal or adaptable grippers that can handle a wider range of loads and thus also reduce set-up times.
Enished and coated surfaces such as paint, powder, etc. are extremely sensitive and require special care when handling loads. If a gripper comes into contact with such loads during the gripping process, there is an increased risk of damage to the surface. Scratches or similar damage can impair the appearance and function of the load and must therefore be avoided at all costs.
Common solutions for gentle gripping of finished load surfaces include, for example, protective coatings inserted into the inner surface of a gripper or special protective covers for the load. However, these options usually require an additional work step and take more time. It is therefore advisable to choose grippers that have soft or rubberised contact surfaces with the load. In addition, special care must be taken when handling certain finished loads to ensure safety.
Oily surface coatings reduce the friction between the load and the gripper, meaning that the load can slip or come loose during transport. The use of a form-fit gripper that allows the load to be gripped underneath is recommended here.
However, the requirements for handling sensitive loads are even more complex. In particular, loads that are not inherently stable or fragile pose major challenges. Thin-walled loads such as fabrics or paper, objects made of glass or porcelain are very sensitive to pressure, so force-fit gripping is not recommended in these cases. A frictional connection usually requires a high contact pressure, which can compress or damage this type of load. A gentle and evenly distributed contact pressure can only be achieved with a positive fit and a large contact surface.
Efficient warehouse organisation is crucial to facilitate access to and handling of loads. However, practice shows that in many cases the available storage space is very limited. Insufficient space for storing loads then usually leads to challenges with cumbersome and unsafe handling processes. Careful planning, organisation and implementation of storage systems is required to avoid such difficulties.
The use of special racking systems for confined spaces or investment in automated storage systems can offer solutions, but also entail high costs. The selection of a suitable gripper is therefore often of great importance. Depending on the gripper and its operating principle, loads must be stored at varying distances. A gripper with a structurally narrow gripping area can be advantageous here in order to save storage space.
Are you familiar with the challenges described above and are you facing similar applications? Are you looking for a gripper that can handle the complex requirements of your loads?
The FinRay gripper from Carl Stahl offers you a unique combination of advantages thanks to its innovative design. Developed along bionic lines, our gripper expands specific areas of application for demanding load handling. It exceeds the performance limits of commercially available grippers and offers you new possibilities for your challenges.
Thanks to its bionically inspired self-adaptability, the FinRay gripper adapts effortlessly to a wide variety of round and angular load geometries, ensuring a full-surface form fit and safe handling.
The FinRay gripper enables a gentle gripping process in which damage to the load is avoided thanks to even and low contact pressure.
The functional principle of the FinRay gripper allows loads to be handled in narrow spaces, thus favouring efficient and space-saving storage.
Mhe bionic FinRay gripper from Carl Stahl is an innovative solution to conventional grippers that extends specific areas of application for vertical lifting, transporting and lowering of unguided loads. As a special special load handling device, the FinRay gripper offers flexibility for adaptive and gentle gripping of loads. The transfer of the biomechanical fin ray effect into a technical gripper ensures a high degree of adaptivity when gripping loads of different shapes and diameters.
The form-fit connection between the load and gripper, in which only the internal fabric strap has contact with the load, ensures a gentle and careful grip with evenly distributed and low contact pressure, thus preventing damage. In addition, efficient and space-saving storage of the loads benefits from the functional principle of the gripper.
The FinRay gripper utilises the fin ray principle borrowed from nature. This is a biomechanical concept that can be found in the structure of a fish fin, among other things, and was named after it. When pressure is applied, the fish fin does not bend away from the pressure point as expected, but curves around the pressure point. In engineering, this effect is used to develop flexible structures that can adapt to different loads or environments. General information about bionics can be found here.
The FinRay universal gripper is operated manually. An attached star grip enables the gripper jaws to be closed, while the associated lever releases the fixation and opens the gripper. A supplied hold-down device ensures a three-point pick-up for loads that are prone to tipping and increases the gripping range for small load geometries.
In general, the FinRay universal gripper is designed for a wide range of applications in compliance with the technical data and load limits. However, the use of the FinRay gripper is particularly recommended in situations where complex requirements are placed on the lifting, transporting and lowering of loads. For example, when different load geometries need to be handled with one gripper and particularly gentle gripping of the loads is required.
How does the FinRay differ from conventional grippers?
Thanks to a unique combination of properties that are otherwise only occasionally found in gripper systems, sometimes only in special developments, the FinRay gripper offers the possibility for demanding handling applications.
The FinRay universal gripper offers flexible options for handling different load shapes and load diameters. An abstract and simple illustration of the defined load limits can be found in the figure. It should be noted that even approximately round loads, such as oval, hexagonal or octagonal loads, etc. can be handled with the FinRay. Other special shapes are also possible on request and after individual testing by the manufacturer using load samples.
The use of the supplied hold-down device is generally recommended and generally ensures that loads that are prone to tipping are fixed and stabilised and extends the gripping range for medium and small load geometries. Small loads should only be gripped in conjunction with the hold-down device. Small loads are defined as loads with a small diameter that do not rest against the casing of the FinRay gripper when the gripper jaws are fully closed. In addition, the use of the hold-down device is essential when gripping long loads that are longer than 80 cm. In exceptional cases, it is not necessary to use the hold-down device. For example, for loads that have a short load length with a sufficiently large load diameter and are therefore not susceptible to tipping, or when using several FinRays connected in series on a spreader beam.
What load capacity is permissible with the FinRay load gripper?
Loads with a dead weight of between 20-150 kg can be handled safely with the FinRay.
Yes. Loads under 20 kg can be handled after individual testing by the manufacturer.
