Safe cable guidance with limited installation space for picking robots

• What was needed: E4.1 series energy chain, customised 3D-printed component (rotation and guide element for the chain)
• Requirements: Robust and reliable cable routing that takes up little installation space.
• Industry: material handling
• Success for the customer: In the prototype of the picking robot, the flawlessly running energy chain has so far been able to prove itself over several hundred hours of operation without supervision. The component solution also saves the customer development time.

Magazino GmbH develops automation solutions for in-house logistics. For one customer, a gap in the logistics process chain between the warehouse and production was to be closed. While the storage and retrieval machines in the customer's warehouse already enabled automated handling of the parts, the transport of the goods to production was still completely manual. The SOTO picking robot now transports small load carriers (SLCs) to the production line completely autonomously. A conveyor belt gripper is used to pick up and drop off the crates. However, the design presented the developers with a challenge: as the crates are to be stored in the accompanying backpack rack and the robot should also be able to grip the remaining three sides, the gripper needs to rotate 290°. This can only be achieved with a special energy supply, which must only take up a small amount of installation space and must function reliably in the event of dust, dirt or splash water. It should also have a robust design to withstand alternating loads due to the ambient conditions.

Previously, the logistics specialist relied on a self-designed reverse bend radius rotary energy supply for the rotating cable routing to the gripper. This chain moved freely within a circular installation space. However, due to the free space inside, the cable guide folded inwards, causing individual chain links to open under pressure.
These errors were rectified with a rethought design of the rotary module and an E4.1 energy chain for the cable routing. The 3D-printed rotation module now enables the chain to be rolled on and off safely. Unlike before, the cable guide unrolls outside the module and cannot break away inwards. At the same time, a compact design was achieved with the new construction. The customer has confirmed that the E4.1 has functioned perfectly so far, meaning that the prototype has already completed several hundred hours of operation without any incidents or supervision. Thanks to the modular design of the system, the developers also saved development time and weight.