Rotating Vacuum Manifold

[mastertech]

Hello,

I have a pick and place application in which a rotating piece goes down in order to pick some rubber parts (the parts have a hole on the top and they are picked by a pin that gets into that hole)The issue is that the body rotates in order to place the rubber on the other side, but the picking application is giving us problems as well as the place application. We are thinking about using vacuum to help the part get in proper position but we don't know if there are rotating manifolds (like slip rings in an electrical application) so that we don't lose vacuum when the body rotates. Can someone help me on that? Thank you.

 

[HobieTCat]

If the rotation is not too fast, couldn't you use just about any swivel fitting, then plumb to a manifold? I have done this on a rotating turet with vacuum cups for a pouch handling application.

 

[schick]

Such an animal does exist, you just need a simple rotary joint. Assuming these parts are relative small in weight, you won't need a lot of vacuum pressure, and can probably get away using a pneumatic fitting.

Don't know how many heads you have but a really simple part that works both ways is SMC's p/n:IN-346-178

You can find more info at

http://www.smcworld.com

search under rotary joint.

Good Luck!

 

[ctolbert]

I would also check these guys out. I used a magnetic type seal called ferrofluidic; for rotating parts in CVD reactors.

http://www.fero.com/

Carl

 

[fareast]

I used to work on high speed tobacco production machinery , and we used to use Carbon valves and transfers for the same job . These things are capable of working at high speeds and depression .Will advise when I recall the name of the manufacturer .

 

[nbucska]

If the pick-&-place rotates within <360 deg., you can
use flexible hose . <nbucska@pcperipherals.com>

 

[joerice50]

If commercially, available joints are not quite the ticket, it’s relatively easy to make your own rotary vacuum seal.

A labyrinthine seal should provide the features you are seeking. The labyrinthine seal essentially a vacuum cup with a plug mounted on the same shaft, the plug fits within the cup with a few thousandths wall clearance. If the wall of the plug are undercut with a series of parallel groves, preferably, U shaped, this will provide the labyrinthine vacuum seal.