Abstract: A method for controlling a plant, such as an industrial production plant with a plurality of working units, such as industrial robots or the like, using at least one programmable logic control (PLC), is characterized in that historical process data are fed into an input area of the PLC and processed by a PLC program logic. An apparatus suitable for performing the method according to the invention has a real time information server for acquiring, archiving or transferring in each case specific historical process data with respect to the plant and a data stream controller for the flexible transfer of archived process data to at least one programmable logic control PLC for controlling the plant, wherein the output data of the PLC can be fed back into the latter.

Abstract: A modular energy conducting guide chain, which is composed of a plurality of serially arranged and interconnected guide elements. A terminal mounting element is joined at one or both ends of the interconnected guide elements, and a hollow guide section is connected to the terminal mounting element. The guide elements each comprise a generally tubular body which is composed of first and second guide sections which have the configuration of a segment of a sphere, and an intermediate joint section which may be flexible. To couple the adjacent guide elements in the chain, the first spherical guide section of one of the adjacent guide elements is positioned to overlie the second spherical guide section of the other of the adjacent guide elements, so as to permit relative rotation therebetween.