Robust and durable cable guidance for palletisers in the beverage industry

Profile

• What was needed: E4.1 series energy chains, chainflex cables
• Requirements: the manufacturer was looking for a uniform chain solution that is robust and durable, quiet and as easy as possible to assemble and fill.
• Industry: beverage industry, packaging technology
• Success for the customer: the sophisticated chain design dampens noise in use, reduces vibrations and increases service life. In addition, the E4.1L can be opened and filled very easily from both sides, which saves time and money.

Beyer's MultiPal systems palletise and depalletise up to 4,000 beverage crates and other packs per hour.

Problem

Beyer Maschinenbau GmbH has established itself as a specialist when it comes to the automated handling of bottles and beverage crates. Beyer's systems stack and transport beverage crates, sort and pack empties, palletise full crates and pack bottles into crates fully automatically. Beyer frequently designs and manufactures complete systems with automated feed and removal technology, including the associated identification technology and connection to the appropriate IT systems.
The MultiPac packers and the palletisers of the MultiPal series are among the machine series that Beyer manufactures most frequently. For the palletisers, the user can choose between two basic designs: the MultiPal L systems are equipped with two linear axes and the MultiPal-DS with a rotary column that allows mobility in up to four axes. In addition to boxes, both types of systems can also palletise and depalletise trays, cardboard boxes and kegs and undertake pallet handling at the same time. To supply the palletisers with energy, signals and compressed air, the manufacturer needed suitable energy chains, looking for a uniform solution for a simplified design and higher quality standards.
In addition, a very important criterion for Beyer is noise emission. For example, the noise level of the systems is a decisive factor in determining whether the user perceives the mechanics of a system to be of high quality or not.
In addition to the stability and reliable function of the cable guides, the simplest possible assembly and filling were also required.

Solution

Beyer works with a high level of vertical integration and takes great care in the optimal selection of purchased components - for example, the energy chains. Today, energy chains of the E4.1 series are compelling here due to their higher torsional stability compared to the chains previously used by Beyer. For this reason, the manufacturer used the cable guidance (in version E4.28) throughout the system series and sizes.
The E4.1L series is also convincing in terms of noise reduction. The individual plates on the chain links glide smoothly into one another during the movement, because the wedge-shaped radius stop is slightly bevelled. This dampens the noise while stopping as well as when rolling on hard ground. Vibrations are also reduced, which further increases the service life.
In addition, the E4.1L can be opened and filled very easily from both sides. This saves time especially when installing on the machine.
In some applications, Beyer also uses the closed version of the energy chain as energy tube R4.1L - and always when there is a risk of glass breakage in the work area.
Finally, the machine specialist also relies on the chainflex cable systems specially developed for moving applications. In addition to energy and signal cables, up to four pneumatic hoses with diameters of 12 millimetres are carried along, which "work" during pressure changes and introduce additional loads into the energy supply system. The E4.1L copes very well with these loads.

Standing, reclining, hanging ..: The E4.1L from igus is used universally on the MultiPal systems.

The chain also handles unsupported applications without any problems.