Miniature gripper

Recently, a miniaturized gripper that is propelled by an LCF film has been introduced [107]. Using lithographic methods, an LCF film and the silicon pincers... 

Figure 19.5. In the course of developing the robotic platform ARCoSyn for fully automated synthesis and purification of compound arrays, a sample-oriented concept has been realized that subordinates sample functionality, thus avoiding complex transport processes between spatially separated individual functionalities. The central component is an industrial robot, which - in respect of flexibility (the gripper changing system for several centralized functions), work space (optimal utilization of available surface area, no need for a translation axis), precision, and loading capacity (option of using modules for both miniaturization and upscaling) - is adapted to the requirements of the laboratory automation concept.

Miniaturized copies of conventional grippers designed for macro handling of systems cannot meet the special requirements posed by the small dimensions of micro parts. Small gripper size and clean-room suitability are achieved, for example, by observing the following rules ... 

SM actuators may have very many different shapes and offer a variety of shape changes (i. e. actuator strokes). This property can be exploited so as to adapt the SM elements shape to the actuating task. As an application example, a miniature parallel gripper with electrically heated SM wires integrated into its mechanical structure was presented. Further on the performance of pseudo-elastic shape memory flexure hinges in parallel robots for micro-assembly tasks was shown. The future opportunity for thin-fllm SM actuators to drive micromechanical systems and devices was demonstrated by a miniature silicon gripper. 

Biitefisch, S. Pokar, G. Biittenbach, S. Hesselbach, J. A New SMA Actuated Miniature Silicon Gripper for Micro Assembley. Proc. 7th Int. Conf. on New Actuators, June 19-21, Bremen, Germany (2000), pp. 334-337... 

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