Greenville, New York July 9, 2007 - Applied Robotics introduced Smart Gripper 2.0, designed for use in a laboratory setting to increase efficiency and flexibility. It is also easily scalable for use in a variety of other industries and applications. The gripper features accurate robotic finger positioning, adjustable grip force, easy integration and requires no proprietary software or controllers. “Our laboratory customers’ stringent requirements were our highest priority in the design process for the Smart Gripper," said Jim Fitzgerald, Vice president of Applied Robotics Inc.
“The Smart Gripper can be used with any robot controller allowing laboratories to meet and exceed any application challenge.”Applied Robotics' Smart Gripper is the only small stepper based gripper available that can be integrated with most commercially available robots and the only programmable gripper designed specifically for micro plate handling. It features interchangeable fingers to hold or carry micro plates (in either landscape or portrait orientation), test tubes and other media. Using a universal operating platform and accurate positioning of robotic fingers, the new gripper brings precision and flexibility to applications and increases laboratory efficiency. Its fingers can be designed by the user, or provided by Applied Robotics, Inc.
The gripper is operated using 24Vdc discrete signals for use with any robot controller. The user pre-programs motions into the servo gripper’s non-volatile memory for later recall triggered by the robot controller’s discrete output lines. Up to 32 programs can be selected using the gripper’s five discrete input lines.
The patent pending gripper also features a fail safe brake system which prevents it from dropping objects and its driveline consists of an extremely precise and lightweight synchronous timing belt.Applied Robotics Inc., headquartered in Glenville, N.Y., is an ISO-9001 registered, employee-owned company serving the world’s automation market.
Founded in 1983, Applied Robotics designs and manufactures end-or-arm tooling and connectivity solutions intended to solve complex automation problems and improve efficiencies. Serving a wide spectrum of customers and industries ranging from large Fortune 500 companies to small privately-held businesses, the company’s wrist-down solutions can be found in manufacturing, welding, assembly, material removal and material handling applications throughout the United States, Canada, Pacific Rim, Europe, Mexico, South America and Australia.