Vacuum gripper

A vacuum gripper for gripping an object surface, the vacuum gripper comprising:

• a base element having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the second side having a central area and a periphery surrounding the central area,
• wherein said periphery of the second side of the base element is bounded by a peripheral rim and comprises a peripheral support area;
• a seal element having an attachment surface mounted to the peripheral support area and a contact surface opposite to the attachment surface;
• an air extraction mechanism mounted to the first side of the base element so as to be in fluid communication with a chamber defined by the second side and the seal element and configured to extract air from the chamber;
• and
• a plurality of ribs arranged across the second side to provide strength and structure to the base element;
• wherein the seal element protrudes a distance from the peripheral support area no greater than a thickness of the seal element;
• and
• brackets at the first side of the base element, each bracket having two mutually transverse portions, a first one of said portions extending along the first side of the base element, and a second one of said portions being attached to the first portion and extending transverse to the first portion away from the first side of the base element, the second one of said portions comprising a through-hole.