Vacuum gripper, feed unit, and method for conveying flat components

A feed unit (32) for a bending machine (34) of a bending unit (33), comprising

• a support structure (35);
• a vacuum gripper (1) for flat components (3), comprising a support part (5), at least one support part element (7), a plurality of first suction elements (4′) arranged at the at least one support part element (7) and defining a first suction plane (19′), and a plurality of second suction elements (4),
• a guiding structure (36) for the vacuum gripper (1), which guiding structure (36) is associated with the support structure (35);
• a conveyor section (37) running in lateral parts (39) of the support structure (35);
• wherein
• the vacuum gripper (1) additionally comprises at least one bearing assembly (28) and at least one actuating assembly (29), wherein the at least one support part element (7) is pivotably mounted at the support part (5) by means of the at least one actuating assembly (29) about the at least one bearing assembly (28), and
• the vacuum gripper (1) is arranged at the support part (5), wherein the plurality of second suction elements (4) define a second suction plane (19), and wherein the at least one support part element (7) with its first suction plane (19′) defined by the plurality of first suction elements (4′) can be pivoted about the at least one bearing assembly (28) from a standby position (30) that is at an angle relative to the second suction plane (19) into a working position (31) that is congruous with the second suction plane (19), and vice versa;
• conveyor elements (38) forming the conveyor section (37) are retractable and extendable relative to a storage unit (40) of the feed unit (32);
• wherein on a side or front face of the support part (5) and/or support part element (7) opposite of the second and/or first suction elements (4′, 4), a means for measuring the thickness (42) of a flat component is provided.