9. Peripherals

9.1 Gripper

The function of "removing the part from the mold" can be performed by a robot or a modified sprue picker to enable the part to be picked up. Parts can be picked up by suction cups (ejectors push the parts onto the suction cups, which are simultaneously pressurized). A pressure sensor verifying that the vacuum level has been reached secures part gripping. In the case of multi-cavity molds, depositing parts in separate containers, cavity by cavity, optimizes sorting operations in the event of quality problems linked to the cavity.

The gripper cycle must be shorter than the press cycle, so as not to increase the latter by waiting time.

The use of a gripper slightly increases cycle time, but generally speaking, it offers gains...