What Is a Bernoulli Grip?
A Bernoulli grip is a non-contacting group that applies Bernoulli’s Theorem, the law of conservation of energy for fluid flow.
They are often used at manufacturing sites for the purpose of gripping and transporting workpieces, and are mounted on robots for transporting relatively thin and light objects.
In recent years, as technology has advanced and the number of precision devices has increased, non-contact chucks that do not damage workpieces have attracted attention in the semiconductor industry, etc., and demand is also on the rise.
Uses of Bernoulli Grips
Bernoulli grips are often used in the manufacturing of semiconductor wafers, glass substrates, etc., where physical damage, breakage, contamination, static electricity generation, etc., of the workpieces are not desired, due to their feature of being able to grip and convey the workpieces without contact.
Bernoulli grips are also suitable for gripping and transferring food products, for which strict hygiene control is required.
In the future, the use of Bernoulli grips is expected to expand not only in the food industry but also in the medical field.
Principle of Bernoulli Grips
When compressed air supplied from the supply port is ejected from the nozzle on the suction surface side, it becomes a swirling flow and generates a vacuum (this is called the cyclone effect).
When the compressed air is released into the atmosphere from between the target workpiece and the suction surface, the Bernoulli effect is activated and generates a pressure drop in the center of the grip. The negative pressure generated at this time allows the workpiece to be pulled up.
In addition to the suction force of the Bernoulli effect, the centrifugal pressure drop of the cyclone effect can be used to have a higher gripping force. This also makes it possible to handle a wider range of workpieces.
The greatest advantage of the Bernoulli grip is its ability to clamp workpieces without contact. Compared to conventional suction gripping with suction pads used in the manufacturing of semiconductor wafers, the Bernoulli grip is much safer and less likely to degrade the quality of the workpiece during transport.