Tool for grasping and handling small objects used in robot applications

摘要

The grip has a capture head (8) made of a thermally conductive material. The grip has a surface (10) that makes contact with the objects being handled. A fluid is delivered round the head, and the head is cooled to the point where the fluid freezes. The object to be grasped is trapped by the freezing fluid. The head has an integral heater (9), capable of rapidly raising the temp. of the head above the melting point of the fluid, releasing the object. The cooling system for the head operates continuously, and the heating system intermittently on command. The cooling of the head is by a Peltier refrigeration element (5) that is coupled to the head by a thermally conductive tube (7). A heat pump removes heat generated by the heat source.