AUTOMATED VACUUM GRIPPER AND METHOD FOR SECURELY GRIPPING COMPONENTS

The invention relates to a method for transporting components and to an automated vacuum gripper (1) for components (3), in particular sheet metal parts, comprising a plurality of suction cups (4) which are arranged on a preferably movable supporting part (5), a first vacuum generator (8) for forming a first vacuum circuit (9), a second vacuum generator (10) for forming a second vacuum circuit (11), at least one switching element connected to a plant controller (14) for automated switching over from the first vacuum circuit (9) to the second vacuum circuit (11), at least one compressed air supply (15) connected to at least the first and second vacuum generator (8), and at least one sensor device (16, 17). The first vacuum generator (8) is associated with a first predeterminable group (12) of suction cups (4) and the second vacuum generator (10) is connected to a vacuum tank (18) for forming a second vacuum circuit (11) which can be activated in an emergency and is redundant to the first vacuum circuit (9), an