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Advanced EOATs and Easier Changeover Speed Robot Adoption

Versatile suction-cup and human-like gripping end-of-arm tools, as well as a solution for quick EOAT changeover are among the newest components advancing robotics in packaging.

Soft Robotics’ mGripAI software incorporates proprietary 3D vision, AI, and soft-grasping technology to pick, place, and sort delicate, variable, and bulk food products.
Soft Robotics’ mGripAI software incorporates proprietary 3D vision, AI, and soft-grasping technology to pick, place, and sort delicate, variable, and bulk food products.

Among the improvements expected to influence the adoption of robotics in the near future are easier changeover and advancements in end-of-arm tools (EOATs). According to a controls engineer from one OEM who was interviewed for a report, “2022 Robots and Cobots An Automated Future,” from PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, “EOAT design will advance the use of robots in the years ahead, since most of the applications and functionalities are driven by the customer.”

The MX suction cup from Piab can work across an array of solutions, such as bin picking, order fulfillment, box depalletizing, and order sorting.The MX suction cup from Piab can work across an array of solutions, such as bin picking, order fulfillment, box depalletizing, and order sorting.To eliminate the need to change a gripper or suction-cup EOAT for each individual product in an application, Piab has introduced the MX suction cup, which can work across an array of solutions, such as bin picking, order fulfillment, box depalletizing, and order sorting.

The multipurpose suction cup is said to have extreme gripping capabilities on many surfaces and materials, including cardboard boxes, recycled objects, and difficult-to-grasp bags, among others. It also has the ability to create a hard seal with up to 50% less vacuum flow, which Piab says contributes to a more sustainable energy output. The suction cups are available in five sizes—35, 42, 50, 57, and 65 mm dia—and are compatible with Piab’s piGRIP fitting program, which allows for custom fitting options.


Watch video   Watch a video of Piab’s MX suction cup family.

In addition, the EOAT’s low-vacuum-level design ensures packages do not become dented or wrinkled, which means they have a better chance of being recycled or reused. The suction cup is designed with Piab’s extreme-longevity material, Duraflex, which the company says has tested positively for over 750,000 cycles. “This material features the elasticity of rubber and the outstanding wear-resistance of polyurethane, as well as fantastic elastic memory and ‘mark free’ capabilities,” Piab claims.

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