Plastic Tray Gripping with a Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib

At a fixed lifting station that repeats a few hundred plastic tray cycles a day, FullSharp installed a floor-mounted pneumatic jib crane with a gripper custom-built to the workshop's tray. The pneumatic cylinder lifts with centimetre-level positioning, and the arm swings 180 to 360 degrees from conveyor to pallet without warping or dropping trays.

A production line has one fixed lifting station, repeating a few hundred plastic-tray cycles every day. Gripping by hand or with a makeshift hook easily warps, scratches, or drops trays. Workers also tire, and the line's pace slows toward the end of the shift.

FullSharp installs a fixed-base pneumatic jib crane right at that station, with a plastic tray gripper tool custom-built to the workshop's tray. The pneumatic cylinder lifts and lowers smoothly with centimeter-level positioning, and the swing arm moves the tray over without the worker having to carry it sideways.

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool

A fixed-base pneumatic jib crane with a plastic tray gripper tool installed at the work station.

Equipment Included

Fixed steel base: bolted to the floor right at the work station, stable under load.
180-to-360-degree swing arm: chooses the angle to match the line layout, moving the tray from the conveyor to the pallet.
Pneumatic cylinder assembly: smooth lifting and lowering, precise positioning, holds the load when the operator releases the control.
Plastic tray gripper tool: custom-built to the exact tray, gripping the tray's edges snugly without scratching or deforming it.
Air valves and hoses: neatly arranged along the arm, built for continuous open-close cycles.

Key Specifications

Arm rotation angle180 to 360 degrees

Benefits for Your Facility

Grips the exact tray

A custom tool fits snugly, no need for an extra hand to hold it and no slipping.

Keeps the line's pace

Repeated light-effort motion keeps the end-of-shift speed the same as the start.

Protects the goods

Powered lifting means the tray never free-falls, keeping products inside from shifting.

Real Installation Photos

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool - photo 1

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool - photo 2

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool - photo 3

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool - photo 4

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool - photo 5

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool - photo 6

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool - photo 7

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool - photo 8

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Plastic Tray Gripper Tool - photo 9

Click a photo to enlarge. Album of 9 photos taken on site.

Suitable Applications

Plastic manufacturing and processing plants
Electronic component assembly workshops
Automated packing and sorting lines
Food processing facilities using trays

Frequently asked questions

Why build a custom gripper for plastic trays?

A makeshift hook can warp, scratch or drop trays. A gripper made to the exact tray grips the edges snugly, so no extra hand is needed and the tray does not slip.

Can the jib arm rotation be adjusted to the line layout?

Yes. The swing arm can be set between 180 and 360 degrees to suit the layout, moving trays from the conveyor to the pallet. FullSharp sets this on site.

Does the tray drop if the operator lets go?

No. The pneumatic cylinder holds the load when the control is released, so the tray never free-falls and products inside do not shift.

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Consultation for Your Facility

FullSharp takes a sample of your actual tray to build the gripper tool, measuring the full tray's weight and the distance between the pickup and drop-off points. Our engineers also check the floor for anchoring the base and your workshop's air supply. Contact FullSharp to schedule a survey.

Fixed-Base Pneumatic Jib Crane with Custom Plastic Tray Gripper for Repetitive Lifting