Vacuum-actuated handling device

A vacuum—actuated handling device, comprising:

• an axially hollow body having an internal surface defining an inner space with a first end and a second end sealed by respective head and base flanges;
• a piston movable between a rearward position adjacent to the first end and a forward position adjacent to said second end of said body;
• a rod integral and movable with said piston, guided and emerging from the second end of said body and carrying a gripping end sucker;
• a return spring connected to said rod and aiming to maintain said piston in said rearward position;
• and
• a suction pneumatic means for controlling the movements of said piston between said rearward and forward position, wherein:
• a guide cylinder is inserted in the inner space and is retained between the two close ends of said hollow body, said guide cylinder delimiting an axial chamber and defining a substantially annular compartment with the internal surface of said body;
• said piston is accommodated and movable in said axial chamber;
• said pneumatic means is provided for applying a pneumatic suction to the annular compartment and the axial chamber in said guide cylinder to induce in succession, firstly the movement of the piston with the corresponding rod and sucker from the rearward position to the forward position and to activate said sucker when said sucker is leant on an element to be taken, afterwards the return of the piston with the corresponding rod in the rearward position with the aid of said return spring and together with the sucker with the taken element, and then the deactivation of the sucker to release the taken element by an interruption of the suction.