Vertical energy supply has proven itself in storage and retrieval units from SIVAplan

Profile

• What was needed: The guide system for vertical energy supply systems: guidelok slimline P; energy chains and chainflex cables, delivered fully harnessed as readychain system.
• Requirements: Vertical cable guidance for SRUs and movement with high dynamics. Even at high speeds and when braking abruptly, the cable guidance must be kept safely on track.
• Industry: Storage and retrieval units, material handling
• Success for the customer: With the guidelok guidance system, the secure hold of hanging energy chains is guaranteed thanks to the automatically operated rocker. And with the pre-assembled readychain, installation time is saved when setting up the SRUs.

Storage retrieval system by SIVAplan with guidelok guide trough.

Problem

SIVAplan GmbH & Co. KG is considered a specialist in automated warehouse and conveyor technology throughout the food industry, but also in other sectors. The company mainly works for those customers who see a perfect logistics chain as a success factor.
SIVAplan has been working with some customers for many decades, planning not only new buildings but also extensions and modernisations of their warehouses, and if the user wishes (and this is increasingly the case), even as a general contractor.
However, the control technology, the conveyor technology and even the storage and retrieval units (SRUs) come from our own development and production.
In every SRU project, one of the electrical design tasks is the design of the energy supply to the load carrying equipment. The energy supply system accommodates cables for energy and signals as well as bus systems, in addition to potential equalisation and, in most cases, data cables for video or image processing systems.
This is a challenge because the SRUs are highly dynamic. The hanging chain must therefore be guided in such a way that, on the one hand, it can be moved freely in the vertical direction and, on the other hand, it remains on track even during high acceleration or braking in two axes.However, since the energy supply first has to be installed in a complex manner before it can function properly, a simple solution should also be found for the installation. In the past, the energy chains and cables were ordered separately, so that the chain had to be purchased with the cables, which was a complex process. The subsequent test also took time.

Solution

SIVAplan found the solution for the energy supply in our guidance system guidelok slimline P (GLSL-P), a special guide trough that guarantees the secure hold of hanging energy chains. In each guidelok segment, an automatically operated rocker ensures the safe positioning of the chain and prevents unwanted swinging, rocking and banging. If the chain runs through the segment in the radius, the rocker is unlocked and the energy chain can move freely. If the radius of the chain leaves the segment, the rocker locks and secures the energy chain again. 
As the guide rail and the holder are made of plastic, the entire system is lighter and more cost-effective. On the other hand, the pluggable GRP guide rails drastically reduce the assembly time. Another advantage of the new plastic product is that it absorbs vibrations and noise even better. 
The GRP angles are also very dimensionally stable and cold-resistant. Impacts against the rails have no effect compared to metal troughs, which would immediately show dents or other deformations. Even in deep-freeze warehouses at temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius, the guide rails are tough enough to withstand vibrations or impacts.
The tests in our in-house laboratory were also able to confirm the durability of the guidelok system. In simulations before the start of series production, the GRP material of the guidance showed no wear even after 1.5 million cycles on a vertical axis.
However, the designers at SIVAplan have been relying on our energy chains and chainflex cables for even longer, which move in the guidelok guidance system. To be more precise, the energy chain and cables are delivered together and completely pre-assembled as a so-called readychain system. This also saves assembly time and complexity when setting up the SRU.

readychain® system consisting of energy supply and harnessed cables.

SIVAplan storage and retrieval units before installation.