Valve apparatus and vacuum handling apparatus having a valve apparatus

Valve apparatus (10) for vacuum applications, the valve apparatus comprising:

• a valve housing (20) delimiting a valve chamber (22), the valve chamber (22) including:
• a vacuum supply opening (28) which is fluidically connected to a vacuum connection (12) for connecting an external vacuum source;
• a suction opening (32) which is fluidically connected to a suction connection (14) for connecting a suction grip device (16);
• and
• a ventilation opening (36) for ventilating the valve chamber (22);
• a valve body (40) which is arranged in the valve chamber (22) and can be moved along a switching axis (38) between a suction position and a ventilation position, wherein the valve body (40) in the suction position closes the ventilation opening (36) and in the ventilation position closes the vacuum supply opening (28);
• a bistable actuator (50) for driving a displacement movement of the valve body (40) between the suction position and the ventilation position, comprising
• an armature (52) connected to the valve body (40) and displaceable along the switching axis (38);
• and
• an electromagnetic coil (54) for driving a displacement movement of the armature (52) along the switching axis (38);
• a swing check valve (74) for opening and closing the vacuum supply opening (28), wherein the swing check valve (74) can assume a closed position and an open position,
• wherein the swing check valve (74) can be transferred into the open position by applying vacuum to the vacuum connection (12).