A novel, flexible and multi-functional handling device based on Bernoulli principle

The application of automation for handling of non-rigid or semirigid food products are limited due to lack of appropriate gripper. Most of the grippers are not easily applicable due to food products are often delicate, easily marked or bruised, adhesive and slippery. In this paper, a flexible, multi-functional gripper for handling variable size, shape and weight of unpacked food products is discussed. The gripper operates based on Bernoulli principle of generating a high-speed flow between the gripper plate and product surface thereby creating a vacuum which lifted the product. Basic working principle is presented followed by experimental results.