Random product presentation is one of the hardest picking problems in automation: the products arrive on the conveyor in no particular order or orientation, and the tool has to cope. This application story covers a vacuum gripper with three independently retracting arms, built for a vision guided robot that picks randomly placed products one arm at a time without ever stopping the belt.
How the Three Arm Gripper Works
The robot uses a vision system to locate and orient itself to each product, and each of the three arms reaches down independently to pick a part. Because the arms retract on their own, one arm can be down picking while the other two hold products already collected, so the robot gathers three items per trip to the place position instead of one. Each set of retractable arms has an independent air flow system, allowing specific pressure changes where a product needs a gentler or stronger grip.
Key Features
- Three independently retracting arms, each picking one product at a time
- Independent air flow per arm, with pressure tuned to the product
- Organic structure to reduce weight
- Integrated vacuum channels printed into the body
- Quick changeover connector for fast tool swaps
Why This Only Works 3D Printed
Three articulated arms with independent air circuits would be a plumbing nightmare in machined tooling. Printed in nylon, the vacuum channels run inside the structure, the organic geometry keeps the moving mass low, and the whole mechanism stays light enough for high speed vision guided picking. It is the same philosophy behind our EOAT grippers lineup, and for flat or porous products the wide face of an Area Surface Gripper solves the same problem differently. New to vacuum tooling? Start with the vacuum gripper definition in our glossary.
Three Arm Gripper Questions
How does a robot pick randomly placed products?
A vision system locates each product on the conveyor and guides the robot to it. With independently retracting arms, the tool collects several products per trip, one arm at a time.
Why do the arms have independent air systems?
Each arm has its own air flow circuit so vacuum pressure can be tuned per pick, which lets one tool handle products that need different grip strengths.
Can the gripper be adapted to a different product?
Yes. The arm geometry, cup selection, and pressure settings are all customizable, and a printed revision for a new product ships in days.
Picking Random Products on a Conveyor?
Tell us about your robot, your product, and your target cycle time, our team will recommend a tooling design that fits your payload, changeover, and budget.
Let’s Stay Connected!
Enjoyed this article? Follow us for more insights, updates, and innovations:
