Safe cable guidance with limited installation space for picking robots

Profile

• What was required: E4.1 series energy chain, individual 3D-printed component (rotation and guide element for the chain)
• Requirements: Robust and reliable cable guidance 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 been able to prove itself over several hundred hours of unsupervised operation. In addition, the component solution saves the customer development time.

The video shows the work movement of the picking robot. The energy chain running outside is clearly visible.

Problem

Magazino GmbH develops automation solutions for in-house logistics. A gap in the logistical process chain between the warehouse and production had to be solved for a customer. Because while the storage and retrieval units in the customer's warehouse already enabled the automated handling of the items, the goods were still transported to production completely manually. With the SOTO picking robot, small load carriers (SLCs) are now transported completely autonomously to the production line. The crates are picked up and released using a conveyor belt gripper. However, the design presented the developers with a challenge: since the boxes need to be stored in the backpack shelf carried along and the robot also needs to be able to reach the remaining three sides, a rotation of the gripper of 290° is required. This can only be achieved with a special energy supply system, which must only take up a small installation space and must function reliably over the long term in the midst of dust, dirt or splashing water. In addition, due to the environmental conditions, it should have a robust design against alternating stress.

Solution

Up until now, the logistics specialist relied on a self-designed Reverse Bend Radius (RBR) rotary energy supply for the rotating cable guidance to the gripper. This chain moved freely within a circular space. Due to the free space inside, however, the cable guidance folded inwards, whereupon individual chain links opened under pressure.
These errors have been rectified with a revised design of the rotation module and a E4.1 energy chain for the cable guidance. The 3D-printed rotation module now enables the chain to be rolled up and down safely. In contrast to the previous system, the cable guide rolls out outside the module and cannot break away inwards. At the same time, a compact structure was achieved with the new construction. The customer attested that the E4.1 had functioned flawlessly so far, so that the prototype was able to complete several hundred operating hours without incident and without supervision. Thanks to the modular structure of the system, the developers also saved development time and weight.

In detail: the energy chain runs outside a 3D-printed core and inside a guidance system that separates it from the outside.

The 290° rotation gives the picking robot the necessary flexibility when handling the boxes.