Getting in a twist: new rotary manifold helps unravel air lines and coiled hoses

Citation

(2001), "Getting in a twist: new rotary manifold helps unravel air lines and coiled hoses", Industrial Robot, Vol. 28 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2001.04928dad.003

Getting in a twist: new rotary manifold helps unravel air lines and coiled hoses

Getting in a twist: new rotary manifold helps unravel air lines and coiled hoses

Keywords: Robots, Pneumatic grippers

If your airlines are getting you in a twist, then there is a ready answer available from Surrey-based robot workholding specialist, Leader Grippers, Chertsey.

Leader supplies a rotary manifold fitted with radial and axial pressure ports that instantly solves the problem of pneumatic air lines getting twisted or coiled (see Plate 2).

Plate 2 Leader grippers: new rotary manifold

Installing the rotary manifold on rotating machinery, such as rotating cylinders and rotary indexing tables, keeps all supply lines neat and tidy. It eliminates overhanging hoses and spiraling lines, prevents the premature wear of the hoses and ensures safe and continuous operation of the rotating equipment.

There are two models available, a four-port unit and a two-port unit, weighing 0.70kg and 0.40kg respectively. On both, the in-ports are located on the side of the unit and the out-ports on the rotating head. Each caters for air pressure from 4 up to 10 bar and rotational speeds up to 1,500rpm.