Linear bearings and energy supply systems in sustainable automatic beverage machines

Profile

• What was needed: readychain energy chains; chainflex cables; drylin W profile rail guides; drylin N low-profile linear guides
• Requirements: The original chain guide system caused the cables to fail – they rotated slowly with each cycle and were completely twisted after 1,000 cycles. The system also had to be delivered in a ready-to-connect condition in order to avoid costly, time-consuming harnessing.
• Industry: Vending machinery
• Success for the customer: The new readychain system –a completely harnessed e-chain system – solves all maintenance problems. The vending machine has been working perfectly since the chain's introduction.

Drop Water mini filling system: Filling compostable containers eliminates the need for filled bottles.

Problem

You can find them in airports, supermarkets, and train stations: beverage vending machines from Drop Water, based in California. Customers can use a touch display to select a beverage from the Drop Station. They then receive an individually filled, compostable container filled with tap water filtered at the point of sale which, if the customer has so requested, contains caffeine or flavour or is heated or cooled to a certain temperature. The new vending machine allows Drop Water to decentralise the process of bottle filling by having the self-service kiosk function as a miniature filling system. The company's approach is much more environmentally friendly than that of conventional providers of bottled water, since it eliminates the need for transporting filled bottles.
The core of the vending machine is a linear robot that manufactures and dispenses beverages. It is also supplied with energy and data. Although it used an energy chain, there were cable failures in the prototypes. The cables rotated slowly during each cycle, so they were completely twisted after 1,000 cycles. Harnessing was another problem. In order to avoid having to continually buy, cut, modify, and assemble every single component, the company needed a functioning, ready-to-connect solution.

Solution

The correct interior separation and a fully harnessed readychain e-chain system now allow the vending machine to function perfectly. They also saved the company a great deal of installation time and costs. But the Americans also relied on our linear product kit in the linear robot and in the output unit. The mechanical systems here consist of maintenance-free drylin W and drylin N rails and carriages. The implementation of the Drop Water project contributed to the overall efforts of a forward-thinking, socially responsible company. The collaboration is so valuable precisely because it can make a small contribution to curbing pollution. The project therefore won over the judges for the seventh vector awards. The awards are presented once every two years and distinguish creative energy chain applications from all over the world. Drop Water received the green vector award, which was, for the first time, used to recognise two sustainable projects.