Cleverly guiding energy around the bend in the fully automated baking machine

• What was needed: an energy and signal guide that can follow the longitudinal movement of the SRU while carrying out a curved movement
• Requirements: quick and easy installation, long service life, space-saving and easy-to-use design, less maintenance
• Material: energy chain E2/000 with notch separators
• Industry: Vending machinery

The factory planning experts from EngRoTec Systems have developed a fully automatic baking station for supermarkets. Behind the delivery compartments, a robot works that resembles a storage and retrieval unit (SRU) in intralogistics - what makes it special is that it can drive around bends. It transports the baked goods from the warehouse to the oven and then from there to the serving tray. Another highlight: the system is equipped with an AI solution with learning and forecasting functions. The filling level of the compartments is monitored by means of a sensor and the replenishment is automatically organised according to demand, so that overproduction is avoided.

Problem

Since the baking stations are almost always L-shaped, the SRU must travel at a 90° angle with a turntable. Finding an energy and signal supply system that manages this movement proved to be a particular challenge. The developers also wanted a durable and maintenance-friendly solution, ideally easy to install and as compact as possible.

Solution

The challenge was cleverly taken on with an igus e-chain from the E2/000 series: if you turn it by 90^o and set it upright, it can follow the longitudinal movement of the SRU over a length of 12 meters and at the same time carry out a curved motion. Equipped with lateral sliding elements that protect against wear, the E2 moves on a stainless-steel guide, which sets the desired radius during cornering. With the unusual upright position of the e-chain, it was important to equip it with notch separators instead of the usual sliding crossbars. This is due to the fact that they prevent the crossbars and cables from moving downwards due to gravity and all of them lying on top of each other. Since the E2 is very easy to clip open and individual cables can be quickly replaced or supplemented, the system also convinces in terms of ease of maintenance.

The RBG in action: with the baked goods, it moves from the oven around the bend to the serving area.

Around two thirds of the 12-meter-long total route, the energy chain moves "completely normally" linearly. Then it goes around a 90° bend.

The cornering is guided by stainless-steel sheets.