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

• What was needed: an energy and signalling guide that can follow the longitudinal movement of the stacker crane and perform a curved movement at the same time
• Requirements: Quick and easy installation, long service life, space-saving, easy to use, less maintenance
• Material: energy chain E2/000 with detent separators
• Industry: vending machinery

The factory planning experts at EngRoTec Systems have developed a fully automated baking station for supermarkets. A robot works behind the display shelves, which is similar to a storage and retrieval unit (SRU) in material handling - with the special feature that it can travel around bends. It transports the baked goods from the bearing to the oven and then from there to the output tray. Another highlight: the system is equipped with an AI solution with learning and forecasting functions. A sensor monitors the fill level of the compartments and automatically organises replenishment according to demand to prevent overproduction.

As the baking stations are almost always arranged in an L-shape, the SRU has to travel at a 90° angle with a turntable. Finding a power and signal supply system that could cope with this movement proved to be a particular challenge. The developers also wanted a durable and maintenance-friendly solution that was ideally easy to install and as compact as possible.

The challenge was cleverly solved with an igus® e-chain® from the E2/000 series: If you turn it by 90° and stand it on end, it can follow the longitudinal movement of the stacker crane over a length of 12 metres and perform a curved movement at the same time. Equipped with lateral sliding elements that protect against wear, the E2 travels on a stainless steel guide that specifies the desired radius when cornering. With the unusual upright position of the e-chain®, it was important to equip it with locking dividers instead of the usual sliding crossbar. This is because they prevent the crossbar and cable from moving downwards due to gravity and lying on top of each other. As the E2 can be easily clipped on and individual cables can be quickly replaced or added, the system also scores highly in terms of ease of maintenance.