Material Handling Equipment - Industrial and Systems Engineering

MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT10(b) Articulated jib cranemanipulatorExtends a jib crane’s reachingcapability in a work area throughthe use of additional links or“arms”10(c) Vacuum manipulatorProvides increased flexibility because rigid links are not used(vacuum, rigid-link, and articulated jib crane manipulators can alluse vacuum gripper end-effectors)11. Industrial robotUsed in positioning to provide variable programmedmotions of loads“Intelligent” industrial robots utilize sensoryinformation for complex control actions, as opposedto simple repetitive “pick-and-place” motionsIndustrial robots also used for parts fabrication,inspection, and assembly tasksConsists of a chain of several rigid links connected inseries by revolute or prismatic joints with one end ofthe chain attached to a supporting base and the otherend free and equipped with an end-effectorRobot’s end-effector can be equipped with mechanical grippers, vacuum grippers,electromechanical grippers, welding heads, paint spray heads, or any other toolingAlthough similar in construction, an industrial robot is distinguished from a manipulator by theuse of programmed control logic as opposed manual controlPick-and-place industrial robots can be used as automatic palletizersMobile robots similar in construction to free-ranging AGVsCan be powered manually, electrically, or pneumatically____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________24