EP0213513B1 - Machine for assembling the two panes of an edge-bonded insulating glazing - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1 and relates to devices for the production of Mehrfachvergianngen, as z. B. from DE-OS 23 10 502 or DE-A-2 843 861 are known.

In the known device, the two glass sheets to be connected are clamped together with a spacer in the form of a bracket or bellows and standing on a horizontal conveyor and leaning against a support roller field with their respective edges led over a stationary nozzle from which a hot-melting material emerges and as a strand enters the space between the two glass panels and connects with their two opposite edges. If a strand is inserted along an edge of the clamped pair of glass panels over its entire length, the advance of the glass panels and the supply of the hot-melting material are interrupted, the pair of glass panels is pivoted as a unit by 90 ° about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the pane, and then a strand in the edge region which is now below injected from the hot-melting material. This process is repeated in the same way for the third edge of the pair of glass panels clamped together; the spacer is then removed from the space between the two glass plates; the two glass sheets now connected solely by the hot-melting material are rotated a third time by 90 ° and then the strand of the hot-melting material is injected onto the last remaining edge, as a result of which the space between the two glass sheets is sealed. They now form an insulating glass pane.

In a special embodiment of the known device, rollers are provided on both sides of the plane of the disk which, when the hot-melt material is injected, exert a slight pressure on the outer surface of the two glass plates in order to keep the distance constant throughout.

In the known device, it is disadvantageous that the two glass sheets to be connected have to be clamped together before the injection of the hot-melt material with the interposition of a spacer, and that this spacer has to be removed from the hot-melt material again before the last strand is injected. A rational, automatically running connection of two glass panels is not possible in this way. A further disadvantage of the known device is that the pair of glass panels clamped together has to be rotated three times by 90 °, since this requires a pivoting device which, particularly in the case of larger glass panel formats, has to be constructed in a complex manner, quite apart from the fact that a relatively large amount is required for pivoting glass panels Time and space needed.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned, in which a rotation of the glass panels is not required and which is particularly suitable for an efficient, automated connection of glass panels to insulating glass panes.

This object is achieved by a device with the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is an essential feature of the invention that the horizontal conveyor has separate supporting elements for supporting the two glass sheets over one of their large areas, one of which defines the plane of the pane, while the other defines a plane parallel to it. The pane running plane is understood here to mean a plane parallel to the glass sheets, which coincides with the outer large area of one of the two glass sheets when the glass sheets are transported on the horizontal conveyor, and in the case of transported glass sheets the lower large area of the lower glass sheet, and in the case of a horizontal conveyor which the glass panels are transported standing and leaning against the support elements, the large rear surface of the rear glass panel.

The horizontal conveyor known from DE-OS 23 10 502 also has supporting elements for the large rear surface of the rear glass panel. In the known device, however, the front glass panel is supported by the spacer firmly clamped between the two glass panels. Instead of this clamped spacer, the invention now uses separate support elements which are arranged on the horizontal conveyor in such a way that they define a plane parallel to the plane of the glass run, whereby they hold the second glass sheet at a predetermined distance from the first glass sheet lying in the glass run plane, while the two glass sheets are conveyed synchronously on the horizontal conveyor and / or are connected to one another by injecting an initially pasty and subsequently solidifying material into the space between them. For example, hot-melt adhesives or thiocols are suitable as materials for this.

In order not to have to pivot the two glass sheets for connection, in contrast to the known device, a nozzle is provided according to the invention, which can be moved parallel to the plane of the disk running transversely to the transport direction of the horizontal conveyor. Basically, one nozzle can be used, but several nozzles can also be provided, which one after the other or also partially at the same time for injecting the pasty mass into the intermediate space between two glass panels can be used. If several nozzles are provided, then at least one of them can be moved in the manner described. If only one nozzle is provided, then it can process the two edges of a pair of glass panels that run transversely to the transport direction while the glass panels are at rest, whereas the two edges of the glass panel pairs that run parallel to the transport direction can be processed in one pass while the nozzle is stationary. Devices that operate with one or two nozzles are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further possible arrangements of nozzles and their movement sequences, including those in which a nozzle can also be moved in the transport direction or counter to the transport direction of the glass panels, in order to be able to seal the edges of resting glass panel pairs parallel to the transport direction are described in DE-PS2816437 and DE -PS2846785; they can be applied to the present invention insofar as they act on insulating glass panes which are not pivoted during processing. In particular, it is also possible to provide two nozzles which can be moved along two parallel trajectories at an angle to the transport direction and parallel to the disk running plane and can be pivoted about an axis perpendicular to the disk running plane, as shown in DE-PS2816437 in the second exemplary embodiment. The advantage of such an arrangement is that both nozzles start their work simultaneously or approximately simultaneously at a first common corner and end simultaneously or approximately simultaneously at the opposite corner, so that the two strands generated by them are connected to each other at both ends as long as they are still fresh (hot), whereby a tight connection of the two strands can easily be achieved.

In order to enable an unimpeded passage of the respective nozzle at the edge of the glass sheets, the supporting elements for the glass sheet arranged at a distance from the plane of the pane can be brought out of engagement with this glass sheet individually or in groups by an actuating device. This actuating device can easily be controlled automatically if sensors are provided which provide information about the position of the respective glass panel pair and the nozzles. In that edge region of a pair of glass panels, in which the initially pasty and then solidifying mass is already injected, this mass can take over the necessary support of the glass panels arranged at a distance from the plane of the pane instead of the already disengaged support elements.

Furthermore, it is provided according to the invention that a spacer which dips into the space between the two glass sheets and which keeps the two glass sheets at the necessary distance in the vicinity of the nozzle openings and which ensures that the strand injected between the glass sheets is provided at a constant distance ahead of the nozzle openings of the nozzles the pasty mass has exactly the required width, which corresponds to the distance between the glass sheets. To ensure that the two glass panels in the vicinity of the nozzle are not at a greater distance than required and provided by the spacer, the weight of the upper or front glass panel, which is arranged at a distance from the plane of the pane running, can already ensure that the glass panels are lying or inclined. However, pressure elements, in particular rollers, are preferably provided on both sides of the spacer, by means of which the two glass sheets are pressed against the spacer during the injection of the pasty mass.

The invention is applicable both to devices with a horizontal conveyor on which the glass sheets are transported lying down, and to devices with a horizontal conveyor on which the glass sheets are transported standing up. When glass sheets are transported lying down, the upper glass sheet tends to sag in the middle; In order to counter this, a device that is movable parallel and transversely to the plane of the window is expediently provided in such a device above the plane of the window, e.g. B. a suction plate, which can be placed on the upper glass panel to compensate for its sag by suction. The suction device is therefore designed to be movable parallel to the plane of the pane in order to be able to bring it approximately in the middle of the glass sheet in the case of changing formats of the glass sheets.

However, preference is given to a device which is passed through the glass panels on a stand-up conveyor and is inclined a few degrees against the vertical, leaning against the supporting elements, because with such a configuration the sag of the front pane is not a particular problem and the footprint of the device is far less than with horizontal processing of the glass panels.

As support elements, it is advantageous to use rollers which plunge into the space between the two glass sheets and roll on the inside of the glass sheet which is arranged at a distance from the plane of the pane. It is by no means necessary for the rollers to be completely immersed in the space between the two glass sheets; it is sufficient if they do so with part of their scope. Tapered rollers are particularly suitable for this purpose, which only dip into the space between the glass sheets with the larger part of their circumference in diameter and can still be used even with small distances between the two glass sheets (US Pat. No. 4,434,024). Instead of rollers, pins could also be used to support the glass panel arranged at a distance in front of the plane of the pane, which plunge into the space between the two glass panels. However, these pins should be from a factory, so as not to create excessive friction when transporting the glass sheets Material with a low coefficient of friction exist or be driven synchronously with the horizontal conveyor. If the support elements are rollers, they can be designed to run freely, but it is also entirely possible to design them to be drivable so that they can contribute to the advancement of the glassware on the horizontal conveyor.

It is not necessary for the support elements to support the glass panels over a larger area of their respective large area, rather it is sufficient to support the glass panels only at their edge, in particular on those two edges which run in the transport direction of the horizontal conveyor. For this purpose, two rows of support elements, in particular support rollers, parallel to the transport direction of the horizontal conveyor, are preferably provided for supporting the glass panel arranged at a distance from the disk running plane, of which at least one row can be displaced parallel to the disk running plane transversely to the transport direction in order to change the device To be able to adapt the formats of the glass panels. Accordingly, in the preferred use of a horizontal conveyor for standing glass panels, it is best to use a lower row of support elements which only protrude slightly above the installation level of the horizontal conveyor and a second row of support elements which are arranged such that they can be adjusted in height, the support elements of the lower row preferably being used can be lowered below the level of the horizontal conveyor.

In order to adapt to insulating glass panes of different thicknesses, the distance of the support elements for the front or upper glass panel from the pane running plane can preferably be changed.

The pressing elements, which are arranged on both sides of the spacer, can be acted upon in the simplest case by mechanical springs. For this purpose, however, a pneumatic piston-cylinder unit or a similarly operating actuating device is preferably provided, which makes it possible to press the pressing elements arbitrarily against the glass panels and to lift them arbitrarily from them. In particular, such an actuating device also enables adaptation to different insulating glass pane thicknesses. Since the outside of the one glass sheet is always in the pane running plane even with different insulating glass pane thicknesses, there is no need to arrange the pressing elements with their pressure-exerting surface in the pane running plane, although it can be advantageous to store them to a limited extent, especially in a flexible manner . To adapt to insulating glass panes of different thicknesses, it is sufficient if the opposing pressure element (s) can be displaced transversely to the plane of the pane. Preferably, the piston rod of the piston-cylinder unit is connected to the pressing element (s) on one side and its cylinder to the pressing element (s) on the other side of the disk running plane (flying connection), expediently for the pressing elements, the Pressure-exerting surface should lie in the plane of the disk, only provides a small displacement path, but a larger displacement path for the opposing pressing elements.

The nozzle and the spacer assigned to it can be separate components, but the two are preferably arranged on a common support; in particular, the nozzle itself can be the spacer. Since the spacer is in contact with both glass sheets and is moved relative to the glass sheets when the pasty mass is injected, it is expedient if the flanks of the spacer consist of a plastic with a low coefficient of friction. In addition, it is expedient if the spacer is chamfered in order to facilitate its insertion into the space between the two glass sheets. In order to produce a strand from the pasty mass between the two glass sheets, it is not always necessary to allow the nozzle to be immersed in the space between the two glass sheets; the device known from DE-OS 23 10 502 also shows a non-immersing nozzle. Preferably, however, the nozzle is immersed in the space in such a way that the nozzle opening is opposite to the direction of relative movement of the nozzle with respect to the glass sheets. Such an arrangement is favorable for the production of a uniform, straight line.

If you do not want to provide a special nozzle for each edge for injecting the pasty mass along the four edges of the glass sheets, then you need at least one nozzle which can be moved transversely to the transport direction of the horizontal conveyor and which rotates at least once, preferably successively, about an axis perpendicular to the disk running plane is rotatable by 90 ° so that they can be brought into contact successively on several edges of the glass panels.

In view of the simplest possible structure of the device, it is advantageous if the nozzle, the spacer (insofar as the nozzle is not itself the spacer) and the pressing elements. are arranged on a common carrier and are displaceable and pivotable therewith.

The cross-sectional shape of the nozzle openings depends on the type of strand that is to be produced. A two-layer composite strand is preferably produced from two different components, the two layers extending from one to the other glass sheet and the first layer consisting of a material which, although adhering to the glass sheets, is not water-vapor tight and contains a granular drying agent (for example Molecular sieves), which in the Moisture is able to bind inside the insulating glass pane, whereas the second, outer layer contains no desiccant and instead seals the interior of the insulating glass pane against the external atmosphere in an absolutely tight manner. It is possible to produce such a composite strand with a nozzle which has two closely adjacent outlet openings, to which the different materials are fed through separate feed channels, or through a nozzle, which has only one outlet opening, but into which two feed channels for the two different materials are fed flow into. Preferably, the two feed channels open into the outlet openings at an angle to one another, in order to ensure that the two partial strands connect to one another perfectly.

If the nozzle is not immersed, the two outlet openings or the openings of the two feed channels into the alternatively provided one outlet opening of the nozzle are to be arranged one behind the other in relation to the direction of movement of the nozzle relative to the glass panels; When using an immersing nozzle, the two outlet openings of which are opposite to the direction of movement of the nozzle relative to the glass panels, the two outlet openings are naturally oriented such that they are adjacent to one another at the same distance from the plane of the pane.

In a device according to the invention, in which the glass sheets are connected standing by means of at least one nozzle which can be pivoted by 90 ° in each case about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the pane and which has two rows of supporting elements for supporting the front glass sheet, a horizontal conveyor is advantageously used which has two in a row Has separately drivable sections, the support elements arranged in the first section of the horizontal conveyor for the large area of the glass sheet lying at a distance from the plane of the pane running being adjustable separately from those in the second section, and the first section of the horizontal conveyor together with its support elements for the two glass sheets in one direction perpendicularly is adjustable to the disc running plane. In the first section of the horizontal conveyor, the two glass sheets to be connected can be brought to cover at a predetermined distance and then jointly transferred to the second section. An example of the first section of the horizontal conveyor is described in DE-OS 28 20 630. The mode of operation will be described in detail later with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The best way to inject the pasty mass into the space between the two glass sheets is to use a nozzle which is movable and progressively pivotable by 90 ° in the claimed manner, or two nozzles, one of which can be displaced in the claimed manner and is progressively pivotable through 90 °, while the other is arranged at the level of the stand-up conveyor and is only intended to produce a strand along the lower edge of the glass sheets. This one nozzle or these two nozzles can be arranged between the two sections of the horizontal conveyor mentioned in the previous paragraph. However, it is preferably subsequently arranged on the second section of the horizontal conveyor and a third section of the horizontal conveyor is connected to it; This last-mentioned embodiment has the advantage over the previously mentioned embodiment that it enables a significantly shorter cycle time of the device, because while a pair of glass plates is handled in the area of the second and third sections and is connected to one another by injecting the pasty mass, in the first section the horizontal conveyor can the following pair of glass panels can already be brought to a distance to cover.

The first section of the horizontal conveyor expediently has two separate, parallel, side-by-side, optionally separately or jointly drivable stand-up conveyors for the two glass panels to be covered, which convey the two glass panels separately in succession and bring them to a distance; the two glass sheets can then be transferred together into the second section of the horizontal conveyor.

If the pasty mass is injected flush into the space between the two glass panels, care must be taken to ensure that the material injected into the lower edge joint does not stick to the stand-up conveyor when it is conveyed out of the nozzle area. This can be counteracted, as shown in DE-OS 23 10 502, by sliding the lower edge of the glass panels over a cooled block, which ensures rapid hardening of the injected material and / or in that a strip is fed in and with it the lower edge joint in the area in which the pasty material is already injected is covered progressively. Another possibility is to provide in the last section of the horizontal conveyor adjoining the nozzles a special erecting conveyor which has supports which engage under the glass panels while leaving out the lower edge joint. Examples of such stand-up conveyors are described in DE-PS 30 38 425 and in DE-PS 34 00 031. Such a stand-up conveyor can be used with advantage both in one embodiment of the device according to the invention with only one nozzle and in one embodiment with two nozzles.

When a nozzle injects a strand of a pasty mass along the upper or lower edge into the intermediate space of a pair of glass plates while the latter is transported through the device while standing on a driven stand-up conveyor and the nozzle is at rest exerted a retarding moment on the pair of glass panels through the nozzle. In order to ensure non-slip transport of the glass panel pair and thus a uniform sealing of the insulating glass pane under all circumstances, in an advantageous development of the invention it is provided that the horizontal conveyor above the stand-up conveyor has at least one auxiliary conveyor which can be driven synchronously with the stand-up conveyor and which acts on the edge the glass panel or on the outer large surfaces of the glass panels and thereby pushing or pulling the glass panels in addition to the stand-up conveyor. Pushing in the transport direction (x) could be effected by a stop acting on the rear edge of the glass sheets, pushing in the opposite direction (x) by a stop acting on the front edge of the glass sheets, which, as required, from an ineffective position behind the pane running plane in an effective position can be advanced or swiveled. Preferably, however, an auxiliary conveyor is provided which acts on the outer large surfaces of the glass sheets, in particular one which is formed by suction conveyors arranged opposite one another on both sides of the disk running plane. These can be suction plates, which are placed on the two large outer surfaces of the glass panels and drag the glass panels in addition to the driven stand-up conveyor in synchronism with the latter. However, suction conveyor belts such as those in the older German patent application DE-A-35 29 892.8 and in DE-A-35 39 876 filed on the same day as the present patent application with the title “Device for the slip-free conveyance of piece goods in are particularly suitable any position, especially in an inclined or generally vertical position. Such an auxiliary conveyor is preferably provided in front of and a further auxiliary conveyor behind the movement path of the nozzle, which can be moved transversely to the transport direction, so that the necessary slip-free transport is ensured seamlessly in all phases of the sealing process.

• Figur 1 zeigt die Vorderansicht eines Teils einer Isolierglasfertigungslinie, welche eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung enthält, welche mit nur einer Düse arbeitet,
• Figur 2 zeigt die Seitenansicht x gemäß Fig. 1 (Blickrichtung in Transportrichtung),
• Figur 2a und 2b zeigen bei Blickrichtung wie in Fig. 2, jedoch vergrößert als Detail die Art und Weise, wie in der in Fig. 2 dargestellten Paarungsstation die jeweils vordere Glastafel am oberen bzw. unteren Rand abgestützt wird,
• Figur 3 zeigt die Ansicht A-B gemäß Fig. 1 (Blickrichtung entgegen der Transportrichtung),
• Figur 3a und 3b zeigen bei Blickrichtung wie in Fig. 3, jedoch vergrößert als Detail die Art und Weise, wie die Glastafeln in dem in Fig. 3 dargestellten Teil der Versiegelungsstation am oberen bzw. unteren Rand abgestützt bzw. gehalten werden,
• Figur 4 zeigt die Ansicht C-D gemäß Fig. 1 (Blickrichtung in Transportrichtung),
• Figur 4a und 4b zeigen bei Blickrichtung wie in Fig. 4, jedoch vergrößert als Detail die Art und Weise, wie die Glastafeln in dem in Fig. 4 dargestellten Teil der Versiegelungsstation am oberen bzw. unteren Rand abgestützt bzw. gehalten werden,
• Figur 5 zeigt als Detail den Eingriff der Düse in die obere Randfuge zwischen zwei Glastafeln in der Vorderansicht,
• Figur 6 zeigt den Querschnitt VI-VI gemäß Fig. 5,
• Figur 7 zeigt in einer Seitenansicht wie in Fig. 5 den Bewegungsablauf der Düse beim Herumbewegen um eine der Scheibenecken in drei aufeinander folgenden Phasen A, B und C,
• Figur 8 bis 16 zeigen in der Draufsicht auf eine Isolierglaszusammenbaulinie, welche die in den Fig. 1 bis 7 dargestellte Vorrichtung enthält, den Ablauf des Zusammenbaues einer Isolierglasscheibe, und die
• Figur 17 bis 23 zeigen in entsprechender Weise wie die Fig. 8 bis 16 den Ablauf des Zusammenbaus einer Isolierglasscheibe in einer Zusammenbaulinie, welche mit zwei Düsen arbeitet.

The structure of a device which works with only one nozzle and a device which works with two nozzles is explained in detail in the following description of the attached schematic drawings.

• FIG. 1 shows the front view of part of an insulating glass production line which contains a device according to the invention which works with only one nozzle,
• FIG. 2 shows the side view x according to FIG. 1 (viewing direction in the transport direction),
• FIGS. 2a and 2b show, as viewed in FIG. 2, but enlarged as a detail, the manner in which the respective front glass panel is supported on the upper and lower edge in the pairing station shown in FIG. 2,
• FIG. 3 shows the view AB according to FIG. 1 (viewing direction against the transport direction),
• 3a and 3b show, as viewed in FIG. 3, but enlarged as a detail, the manner in which the glass panels are supported or held at the upper and lower edges in the part of the sealing station shown in FIG. 3,
• FIG. 4 shows the view CD according to FIG. 1 (viewing direction in the transport direction),
• 4a and 4b show the direction of view as in FIG. 4, but enlarged as a detail, the manner in which the glass panels in the part of the sealing station shown in FIG. 4 are supported or held at the upper and lower edges,
• FIG. 5 shows in detail the engagement of the nozzle in the upper edge joint between two glass sheets in the front view,
• FIG. 6 shows the cross section VI-VI according to FIG. 5,
• FIG. 7 shows in a side view as in FIG. 5 the movement sequence of the nozzle when moving around one of the window corners in three successive phases A, B and C,
• 8 to 16 show a top view of an insulating glass assembly line which contains the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the sequence of assembling an insulating glass pane, and the
• FIGS. 17 to 23 show, in a manner corresponding to FIGS. 8 to 16, the process of assembling an insulating glass pane in an assembly line which works with two nozzles.

The device shown in FIG. 1 has a mating station 1, a sealing station 2 consisting of two successive sections 2a and 2b and a removal station 84.

In the pairing station, glass panels, which are individually brought in from the washing machine 27 (FIG. 8) in the direction of transport (direction of the arrow x), are paired, i. that is, they are made to coincide at a predetermined distance from each other. For this purpose, in the pairing station 1 there is the first section 3 of a horizontal conveyor, which is attached to the machine frame 6, a stand-up conveyor 7, which is formed by a line of synchronously driven rollers (FIG. 2), and above the stand-up conveyor 7, one in a fixed frame Frame 8 arranged field of free-running support rollers 9, which define a disc running plane 10, and two parallel to the erection conveyor 7 rows of tapered support rollers 11 and 12, which define a second plane parallel to the disc running plane 10. The frame 8 is inclined to the rear by a few degrees with respect to the vertical and the disc running plane 10 has the same inclination. The support rollers 9 have approximately perpendicular axes parallel to the disc running plane 10. The axes of the rollers 7 of the stand-up conveyor run at right angles to the disk running plane 10.

The frame 6 together with the frame 8 is slidably supported in a direction perpendicular to the disk running plane 10 by means of a piston-cylinder unit 13.

The lower support rollers 11 protrude with their upper edge a little above the installation level defined by the rollers 7 of the installation conveyor. The upper support rollers 12 are attached to a horizontal bar 16, which is arranged on the frame 8 up and down. The distance between the two support roller rows 11 and 12 from the disk running plane 10 can be changed by adjusting devices 17 and 18, respectively.

The bar 16 with the upper support roller row 12 and the associated adjusting device 17 are fastened to a cross member 19 which is guided on the two side posts of the frame 8. To move the traverse 19 up and down, it is connected at both ends to a chain 20 which leads upwards via an upper deflection gear 21, from there downwards via a lower deflection gear 22 to the traverse 19. The two deflection gears 21 arranged at the top are rotatably connected to one another by a shaft 23 and the lower two deflection gears 22 by a shaft 24. The lower shaft 24 is driven by a motor 25.

The pairing station 1 is fed the glass sheets from the left in the view according to FIG. 1. For this purpose, for example, a feed conveyor, a washing machine 27 and an intermediate conveyor 28 are located in front of the pairing station 1, to which the pairing station 1 is connected (see FIG. 8). The glass panels are individually fed to the feed conveyor; they then pass through the washing machine 27 standing up and reach the intermediate conveyor 28, from which they are transferred to the mating station 1. Of course, the feed conveyor, the washing machine 27 and the intermediate conveyor 28 have matching disc running levels and their erection conveyors are at the same height as that in the pairing station 1.

Before the first glass sheet 31 of a pair of glass sheets enters the mating station 1, the piston-cylinder unit 13 brings it into a position in which the second plane defined by the support roller rows 11 and 12 coincides with the disk running plane 10 of the intermediate conveyor 28. The first glass sheet 31 thus runs standing on the rollers 7 and leaning against the support rollers 11 and 12 into the mating station 1, where it is stopped in a predetermined position, in particular with its front vertical edge running against a retractable stop (not shown). This position is shown in Fig. 8. The second glass sheet 32, which is to be made to coincide with the first glass sheet 31, has now been followed up into the intermediate conveyor 28. Before it can enter the mating station 1, its frame 8 is pushed forward by actuating the piston-cylinder unit 13 such that the disk running plane defined by the support rollers 9 is aligned with the disk running plane 10 of the intermediate conveyor 28 (the disk running plane 10 extends through all stations of the production line). The glass panel 32 entering the mating station is therefore supported by the support rollers 9 attached to the frame 8 and moves forward between these support rollers 9 and the first glass panel 31 in the transport direction until it is in the same longitudinal position as the first glass panel 31, expediently by the same stop , is stopped. It is now positioned congruently with the first glass sheet 31.

The advancement of the second glass sheet 32 can basically take place in the pairing station 1 by means of the same rollers 7 on which the first glass sheet 31 stands, since this can be held by the stop against which it ran. In order to avoid the friction of the rollers 7 on the first glass sheet 31 which occurs, however, it can be expedient to provide separate, coaxially adjacent drive rollers for the two glass sheets 31 and 32, which can be connected to one another, for example, by a slip clutch, as described in DE-OS 28 20 630 shows.

So that the support rollers 11 and 12 can also penetrate into a small space between the two glass panels 31 and 32, they are conical and - as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b - protrude only slightly into the space between the two Glass panels 31 and 32 into it, whereby they support the first glass panel 31 with their conical running surface.

It is easily possible to assemble insulating glass panes of different formats in the assembly line. If glass sheets of different heights follow one another, their height can be determined by sensors located, for example, in the area of the intermediate conveyor 28, and the height of the support roller row 12 before the arrival of the first glass sheet 31 of a pair of glass sheets into the mating station 1 in the corresponding height Altitude.

The sealing station 2 following the pairing station 1 consists of two sub-stations 2a and 2b in the transport direction x one behind the other (FIG. 1). The first sub-station 2a comprises a horizontal conveyor 4, which largely corresponds in its structure to the horizontal conveyor 3 in the pairing station 1. The same or corresponding parts are therefore designated by the same reference numerals. The horizontal conveyor 4 differs from the horizontal conveyor 3 in that the frame 8 cannot be displaced transversely to the disk running plane 10; the disk running level 10 in the first sub-station 2a of the sealing station corresponds to the disk running level in the feed conveyor, in the washing machine 27, in the intermediate conveyor 28 and in the mating station 1 in its advanced position (FIG. 9).

Furthermore, the first sub-station 2a of the sealing station 2 differs from the mating station 1 in that at a short distance above the rollers 7 of the horizontal conveyor two identical auxiliary conveyors 70a and 70b for the two glass panels 31 and 32 are provided. The auxiliary conveyors 70a and 70b are suction conveyors as described in German patent application P 35 29 892.8 or in the German patent application filed by the same applicant DE-A-3 539 876 on the same day as the present patent application with the title "Device for the slip-free conveying of piece goods in any position, in particular in an inclined or generally vertical position »are described.

Each auxiliary conveyor 70a and 70b consists of a hollow profile bar 71, the interior 72 of which is connected via pipe sockets 73 to the suction side of a blower, not shown. The hollow profile beams 71 run horizontally and their mutually facing work surfaces are parallel to the disk running plane 10. On each hollow section beam 71, two mutually parallel endless belts 74 and 75, which can be driven synchronously with the rollers 7, are mounted, the working strands of which protrude a little beyond the working surface of the hollow section beams 71 and thereby limit the length of a flat vacuum channel 76 which is open towards the disc running plane 10, which is connected through bores 77 in the working surfaces of the hollow profile beams 71 to the interior 72 of the hollow profile beams. If the vacuum duct 76 is completely or at least partially covered by a glass panel 31 or 32, then a vacuum can build up in the vacuum duct 76, through which the glass panel 31 or 32 sucked in, pressed against the belts 74 and 75 and is therefore transported without slippage. The auxiliary conveyors 70a and 70b do not have to extend over the full length of the sub-station 2a, but should extend to the outlet-side end thereof, since - as will be described later - a nozzle is provided there, which extends into the space between the two glass plates 31 and 32 immersed and could inhibit their movement.

At the outlet end of the first sub-station 2a of the sealing station, a device 33 for driving, guiding and actuating a nozzle 36 is provided on the horizontal conveyor 4, which is mounted on a carriage 34 and with it in an intermediate space between the first sub-station 2a and the second Substation 2b of the sealing station can be moved up and down along a movement path 35 which runs perpendicular to the transport direction x paracel to the disk running plane 10. On this slide 34, the nozzle 36 is arranged so as to be pivotable by 90 ° in each case about an axis 37 (FIG. 7) perpendicular to the plane of the disk running.

The two glass plates 31 and 32, which are brought to cover in the mating station 1, are transferred as a pair to the first sub-station 2a of the sealing station, where they are guided and supported in the same way as in the mating station 1, but along their lower edge but additionally with the aid of two auxiliary conveyors 70a and 70b.

The second sub-station 2b of the sealing station has largely the same structure as the first sub-station 2a; Identical or corresponding parts are therefore identified by the same reference numbers. The main difference is that the horizontal conveyor 41 in the second sub-station 2b instead of the rollers 7 has a stand-up conveyor which has separate conveyor members 80 and 81 for the front and rear glass panels 31 and 32 (shown in broken lines in FIG. 8), where it is z. B. is endless, synchronously driven chains. In the example shown, five such conveying members 80 and 81 are arranged in the sub-station 2b for each of the two glass panels 31 and 32 in the transport direction, which support jaws 82 and 83 with surfaces parallel to the disk running plane 10 for bearing against the glass panels 31 and 32, respectively. In addition, every second conveyor link 80 and 81 supports supports 46 and 45, respectively, in such a way that the front conveyor link 80 does not support any supports when the opposite rear conveyor link 81 supports support 45, and vice versa. The supports 45 and 46 protrude so little beyond the jaws 83 and 82 that they do not reach the edge joint formed between the two glass panels 31 and 32. The distance between the front supports 46 and the rear supports 45 can be changed in order to adapt to insulating glass panes of different thicknesses. An example of such conveying members and their drive is described in DE-PS 34 00 031. A useful similar horizontal conveyor with opposing supports in pairs is described in DE-PS 30 38 425.

The sub-station 2b has two auxiliary conveyors 70a and 70b which are the same as the sub-station 2a and which extend at least over part of the length of the sub-station 2b, starting from their inlet end. The auxiliary conveyors 70a and 70b preferably extend over the full length of the sub-station 2b, in the example of FIGS. 8 to 16 there are two auxiliary conveyors in each case, each of which is as long as the auxiliary conveyors 70a and 70b in the first tell station 2a.

For the lateral support of the respective rear glass sheet 32 there is a field of support rollers 9 above the supports 45 and 46 as in the preceding stations 1 and 2a. Instead, one could also provide a support wall, which is preferably designed as an air cushion wall and for this purpose has holes distributed over its surface, from which air flows out, which creates an air cushion between the support wall and the glass panels being conveyed, on which the glass panels float. Tapered support rollers 11, as are provided in the mating station 1 and in the first sub-station 2a for supporting the front glass panel 31 along its lower edge, are missing in the sub-station 2b; their task is taken over there by the auxiliary conveyors 70a, which suck in the front glass panel 31.

On the second sub-station 2b of the sealing Station 2 is followed by a take-off station 84, the structure of which largely corresponds to the structure of the second sub-station 2b, but has neither the auxiliary conveyors 70a and 70b nor the upper support roller row 11.

5 and 6 show, the nozzle 36 has two feed channels 51 and 52, which run obliquely towards one another into two closely adjacent, parallel, elongated outlet openings 53 and 54, which the direction of movement of the nozzle relative to the two glass panels 31 and 32 are opposite. Different pasty materials can be fed through the two feed channels 51 and 52, which connect at the outlet of the nozzle to form a composite strand 67 consisting of two layers 65 and 66. The separating surface between the two layers 66 and 67 runs transversely to the pane running plane 10 from one glass sheet 31 to the other glass sheet 32.

The nozzle 36 is dimensioned a little narrower than the predetermined distance between the two glass panels 31 and 32, so that it can be immersed in the space between the glass panels. So that the two glass panels 31 and 32 in the nozzle area exactly maintain the required distance, the nozzle openings 53 and 54 are preceded by a spacer 55, which in the example shown consists of a slide shoe 56, which is attached to the nozzle body and its flanks exactly the predetermined distance to have. The slide shoe 56 is made of a material which has a low coefficient of friction compared to glass. The fact that it is attached to the nozzle body means that it can be easily replaced if necessary due to wear due to friction. So that the spacer 55 can be easily inserted into the space between the two glass panels 31 and 32, the slide shoe 56 is provided with a chamfer 68 at the edges with which it dips into the space between the glass panels.

Two free-running pressure rollers 57 and 58 are provided on both sides of the spacer 55, the axes of rotation 59 and 60 of which are arranged parallel to the disk running plane 10. These pressure rollers 57 and 58 press the two glass sheets 31 and 32 against the spacer 55 and thereby secure their predetermined spacing, so that the composite strand 67 can be produced in the required width that corresponds to this spacing.

In order to be able to move the pressure rollers 57 and 58 towards and away from the glass sheet, they are mounted in a carrier 50 which is displaceable in the direction perpendicular to the disk running plane 10 and which surrounds the edge of the glass sheet pair 31, 32 in a bow-shaped manner. Since the rear glass sheet 32 in the horizontal conveyor 3, on which the nozzle 36 is arranged, always has a constant position determined by the disk running plane 10, there is only a very small displacement path of perhaps only 0.5 for the pressure roller 57 mounted behind the disk running plane 10 mm required. A larger displacement path is provided for the opposing pressure roller 58 in order to adapt to insulating glass panes of different thicknesses. The axes 59 and 60 of the two pressure rollers are connected to one another by a pneumatic piston-cylinder unit 62, 63, e.g. B. in such a way that the piston rod 63 is connected to the axis 59 of the rear pressure roller and the cylinder 62 to the axis 60 of the front pressure roller. The two pressure rollers 57 and 58 are thus actuated together by the piston-cylinder unit 62, 63 connected to them in a floating manner. Before the nozzle is immersed in the space between the two glass panels 31 and 32, the pressure rollers 57 and 58 are at their greatest distance; after immersion, they are pressed pneumatically against the two glass panels.

When the nozzle 36 is moved around the corners of the glass panels 31, 32, the nozzle body only partially slides out of the space between the two glass panels; As shown in FIG. 7, the portion of the nozzle 36 in which the outlet openings 53 and 54 are located remains between the glass panels 31, 32. The nozzle 36 is pivotable about an axis 37 running perpendicular to the disk running plane 10, which is close to that outlet opening 54, which is the deepest in the space between the two glass panels 31 and 32. The position of the axis of rotation 37 is also selected such that it lies approximately in the alignment of the surface 69 of the resulting composite strand 67 facing the interior of the insulating glass panes; the pivoting of the nozzle 36 takes place from a position in which the axis 37 is at the same distance from the two adjacent edges of the insulating glass pane formed from the glass panels 31 and 32 (see FIG. 7); this ensures that the composite strand 67 is optimally formed in the corner region of the insulating glass pane.

As FIG. 7 shows, the spacer 55 slides out of the space between the two glass panels 31 and 32 when approaching a window corner; This means that each time the nozzle 36 is pivoted, the pressure rollers 57 and 58 must first be separated from one another and, after the pivoting, must be moved toward one another again in order to press the glass panels 31 and 32 again against the spacer 55.

The nozzle 36, like the pressure rollers 57 and 58, is attached to the carrier 50 and, together with the latter, can be pivoted about the axis 37. The carrier 50 in turn is attached to the carriage 34 (Fig. 1); the carriage 34 itself cannot be pivoted.

To adapt to glass plates 31 and 32 of different thicknesses, the nozzle 36 is arranged on the carrier 50 so as to be adjustable in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the pane 10 (part 64). To adapt to different distances between the glass panels 31 and 32, the nozzle 36 can be exchanged for wider or narrower nozzles.

8 to 16, the The process of assembling an insulating glass pane in an assembly line which works with only one nozzle 36 is described. The sequence up to the positioning of two glass panels 31 and 32 congruently at a distance in the pairing station 1 has already been described further above, so that the following description can take its starting point in FIG. 9. The two glass plates 31 and 32 positioned in the pairing station 1 are jointly transferred to section 4 of the horizontal conveyor, which is located in the first sub-station 2a of the sealing station, and rapidly to section 41 of the horizontal conveyor in the second sub-station 2b of the sealing station. Meanwhile, in the pairing station 1, the frame 8 is moved back to its starting position (as in FIG. 8), so that the first glass sheet of the next pair of glass sheets can enter there.

The pair of glass panels 31, 32 is advanced by the horizontal conveyor 41 to a position in which the glass panels 31 and 32 with their rear edge, which runs from top to bottom, lie in a predetermined position in the space between the horizontal conveyors 4 and 41; this position is shown in FIG. 11. In this position, the device 33 brings the nozzle 36 to the lower rear corner of the glass panels 31 and 32, dips into the space between them and moves up the rear edge of the glass panels to the rear upper corner and progressively produces a strand 67 of initially pasty mass between the two glass sheets 31 and 32 from bottom to top. When the upper rear corner is reached, the upward movement of the nozzle 36 is stopped and, as shown in detail in FIG. 7, in a clockwise direction swiveled by 90 °. The stop command for the nozzle drive can be issued by a sensor which leads the nozzle 36 at a predetermined distance and which responds to the position of the glass panels 31, 32. However, it is also possible to control the nozzle 36 by means of displacement sensors on the basis of previous measurements of the glass sheet format. If the nozzle 36 has completed its pivoting movement, which can be reported, for example, by a limit switch, then the glass plate pair 31, 32 is moved back by the horizontal conveyor 41 to the horizontal conveyor 4 and taken over by the latter (see FIG. 12) after the upper support roller row 12 in the horizontal conveyor 4 was raised so that these support rollers can no longer engage in the space between the two glass panels 31, 32, which is there now filled with the solidifying mass. In this phase of assembly, the two glass sheets 31 and 32 are along the lower edge by the lower support rollers 11 in the horizontal conveyor 4 and by the auxiliary conveyors 70a and 70b, on the rear edge and on the upper edge in the area between the rear upper corner and the nozzle 36 by the strand 67 already generated, and in the area from the nozzle 36 to the front upper corner by the spacer 55 associated with the nozzle 36 and by the upper support rollers 12 in the horizontal conveyor 41. The backward movement of the glass sheet pair 31, 32 continues until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 13, in which the nozzle 36 has reached the front upper corner and the front edge of the glass sheets 31, 32 at a predetermined position in the area between the horizontal conveyors 4 and 41 lies. With the glass plate pair 31, 32 at rest, the nozzle 36 is now pivoted again clockwise by 90 ° and then travels downwards along the front edge of the glass plate pair until it reaches the lower front corner of the glass plate pair (FIG. 13).

When the glass plate pair 31, 32 is still at rest, the nozzle 36 is pivoted a further 90 ° clockwise and then the glass plate pair 31, 32 is moved forward in the direction of the arrow x while at the same time injecting the pasty mass into the space along the lower edge of the glass plates , which again enter the area of the horizontal conveyor 41 and are taken over by the latter. The glass panels 31, 32 can run into the horizontal conveyor 41 over their full length without a stop, since the sealing process is ended when the lower lower corner is reached by the nozzle 36 and the nozzle is automatically closed. The nozzle 36 is now rotated another 90 ° clockwise and is now ready to seal the next pair of glass plates, which has meanwhile run into the horizontal conveyor 4 (FIG. 15).

The sealed insulating glass pane formed from the glass panels 31 and 32 is rapidly conveyed from the second sub-station 2b of the sealing station into the removal station 84 and stopped there (FIG. 16). At the same time, the subsequent pair of glass panels can run into the horizontal conveyor 41 and its sealing can then be started (as shown in FIG. 11); in the meantime, the finished insulating glass pane can be lifted out of the removal station 84 and brought to a storage location.

FIGS. 17 to 23 show the process of assembling an insulating glass pane in an assembly line which works with two nozzles. The structure of the assembly line largely corresponds to the structure of the assembly line, which was shown above in FIGS. 1 to 16. The same or corresponding parts are therefore designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again in detail below. The assembly lines shown for one and for two nozzles are correct in the washing machine 27 and in the intermediate conveyor 28 (both of which are not the subject of the invention), in the mating station 1 and in the first sub-station 2a of the sealing station and largely in the second sub-station 2b of the sealing station match; the difference in the second part tion 2b is that it contains only a pair of auxiliary conveyors 70a, 70b. In addition, the removal station 84 has been omitted in the assembly line for two nozzles without replacement.

Of the two nozzles of the second assembly line, a nozzle 36 is constructed, arranged and movable in the same way as the one nozzle 36 in the first assembly line; however, in the assembly line working with two nozzles, this one nozzle 36 only serves to seal the insulating glass panes along their front, upper and rear edges. To seal the lower edge of the insulating glass pane, a further nozzle 36a is provided, which is constructed in the same way and is designed with a spacer 55 and pressure rollers 57 and 58, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. However, the second nozzle 36a can only be moved up and down parallel to the disk running plane 10 to a limited extent, namely from a rest position below the installation level of the horizontal conveyor 4 or 41 to a working position in which the nozzle 36a is adjusted by the amount by which it enters the space between the glass panels 31, 32 should immerse, protrudes beyond the level of the horizontal conveyor. Since the second nozzle 36a lies below the first nozzle 36, it is largely covered by the upper nozzle 36 in the plan views according to FIGS. 17 to 23.

The assembly of an insulating glass pane proceeds as follows: The congruent positioning of the two glass panels 31 and 32 at a distance from one another takes place in exactly the same way as in the first assembly line; the processes shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 correspond entirely to those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, so that reference can be made to them. The glass panels 31 and 32 positioned at a congruent distance are jointly transferred from the pairing station 1 into the subsequent horizontal conveyor 4 and moved there to a predetermined end position in which the front edge of the two glass panels 31 and 32 protrudes somewhat beyond the end of the horizontal conveyor 4 is in the space between the horizontal conveyors 4 and 41 (Fig. 20). In this position, the rear glass sheet 32 is supported by the support roller field formed by the support rollers 9, the front glass sheet 31, however, by the upper and lower support roller rows 12 and 11, respectively. In this position of the glass sheets 31 and 32, the upper nozzle 36 is in the region of the inserted lower front corner of the glass sheets in the space between them and then guided upwards along their path of movement 35, injecting a strand 67 of pasty material along the front edge of the pair of glass sheets. At the same time, the frame 8 is moved back in the pairing station 1, so that the first glass sheet of the next pair of glass sheets can come in leaning against the support roller rows 11 and 12 (FIG. 20). In the same period, the lower nozzle 36a is moved upward from its rest position and dips into the space formed between them in the area of the lower front corner of the pair of glass panels 31, 32.

As soon as the upper nozzle 36 has reached the upper corner of the pair of glass panels 31, 32, its movement is stopped and it is pivoted by 90 ° counterclockwise, the exit of the pasty mass being expediently interrupted during the pivoting movement in order to prevent the edge joint from overfilling To prevent corner area. After the swiveling movement of the upper nozzle 36 has ended, the pair of glass plates 31, 32 is moved further in the transport direction x by the horizontal conveyor 4 and transferred to the following synchronously driven horizontal conveyor 41. During this feed movement, pasty material is simultaneously injected through the two nozzles 36 and 36a along the upper and lower edge of the glass plate pair 31, 32 into the intermediate space formed between them (FIG. 21). During this feed movement, the two glass sheets 31 and 32 are kept at a distance in the area which has already passed the nozzles 36 and 36a by the strand 67 formed there and by the suction effect of the auxiliary conveyors 70a, 70b; in the area that has not yet passed through the nozzles, the glass panels 31, 32 are kept at a distance unchanged by the spacers 55 leading the nozzle openings and by the upper and lower support rollers 11 and 12 in the area of the horizontal conveyor 4. When the two nozzles 36 and 36a have reached the two rear corners of the glass plate pair 31, 32, the glass plate pair is stopped by interrupting the drive of the horizontal conveyor 41 and at the same time the supply of the pasty mass to the two nozzles 36, 36a is interrupted. The upper nozzle 36 is pivoted once again counterclockwise by 90 ° and begins to descend along the rear edge of the pair of glass panels 31, 32 and thereby seal the rear edge joint (FIG. 22); meanwhile, the lower nozzle 36a moves back to its rest position. At the same time, the pair of glass panels to be sealed next can enter the area of the horizontal conveyor 4.

As soon as the upper nozzle 36 has reached the lower rear corner of the glass plate pair 31, 32, it is stopped and the further supply of the pasty mass is interrupted. The now finished insulating glass pane can be conveyed away by the horizontal conveyor 41 or removed by the latter for bringing it to a warehouse (FIG. 23). The upper nozzle 36 is pivoted through 180 ° and is introduced in the area of the lower front corner into the space between the two subsequent glass sheets (FIG. 23).

In both assembly lines, one could basically dispense with the horizontal conveyor 4 and provide the sealing nozzles together with their device 33 for driving, guiding and actuating the nozzles 36, 36a at a corresponding point at the end of the pairing station 1. The movements that are otherwise carried out by the horizontal conveyor 4 must then be carried out in the pairing station 1, for which this is quite suitable. Indeed the two following glass panels cannot be paired during this time, so that the cycle time of the assembly lines is extended accordingly.

Claims (30)

1. An apparatus for joining two panes of glass to form an edge-sealed pane of insulating glass by the injection of a strip of material, said material being initially paste-like and subsequently hardening and adhering to the two panes of glass to its whole extent along the edge of the panes in the space between the two panes that are supported at least on one of their major surfaces and which are aligned and held at a distance from each other so as to be parallel, with at least one nozzle that is arranged on a horizontal conveyor for the two panes that are held at a distance from each other, characterized in that the horizontal conveyor (3, 4, 41) is provided with separate supporting elements (9; 11, 12) which serve to support the two panes (31, 32) over one of their major surfaces, of which some define a plane (10) hereinafter referred to as the plane of movement of the panes, whereas the other define a plane that is parallel thereto, these being moveable by an actuating means, either individually or in groups, out of engagement with the pane of glass (31) that is arranged at a distance from the plane (10) of movement of the panes, in that the one nozzle (36) - in the case of a plurality of nozzles (36, 36a) at least one (36) of them - being moveable parallel to the plane (10) of movement of the panes at least transversely to the direction (x) of movement of the horizontal conveyor (3, 4, 41), and in that the outlet orifices (53, 54) of each nozzle (36, 36a) are provided with a separator (55) that precedes them, and which penetrates the space between the two panes of glass (31, 32) and keeps them spaced.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting elements of the horizontal conveyor are so arranged that they define a horizontal plane of movement for the panes and a second plane that is parallel to and above the said plane.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that a suction means that can be moved parallel to and transverse to the plane of movement of the panes is provided above the plane of movement of the panes and can be applied to the upper pane of glass.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting elements (9, 11, 12) of the horizontal conveyor (3, 4, 41) are so arranged that they define a vertical or - preferably - approximately vertical plane (10) of movement for the panes and a second plane that lies in front of and parallel to this, and that the horizontal conveyor incorporates an upright conveyor (7) with a set-up plane that extends at right angles to the plane (10) of movement of the panes on which conveyor (7) the panes of glass (31, 32) rest standing on their lower edge.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the horizontal conveyor (4, 41) comprises above the upright conveyor (7) at least one auxiliary conveyor (70a, 70b) that is driven synchronously with the vertical conveyor (7) and which is intended to act on the rearmost or foremost edge of the panes of glass (31, 32) or on the outer major surface of the panes of glass (31, 32).

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the auxiliary conveyor (70a, 70b) is formed from two suction conveyors that are arranged on both sides of the plane (10) of movement of the panes and are opposite to each other.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a first auxiliary conveyor (70a, 70b) is provided in front of the path of movement (35) of the nozzle (36) - as viewed in the direction (x) of movement of the panes - and a second auxiliary conveyor (70a, 70b) is provided behind the said path of movement (35) - as viewed in the said direction (x) of movement - of the nozzle (36) that can be moved transversely to the said direction (x) of movement.

8. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting elements (9, 11, 12) that are used to move the panes of glass (31, 32) can be driven.

9. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting elements (11, 12) for the pane of glass (31) that is arranged at an interval from the plane (10) of movement of the panes are rollers that penetrate the space between the two panes of glass (31, 32).

10. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that pressure elements (57, 58), in particular rollers, are arranged on both sides of the separator (55).

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the pressure elements (57, 58) can be moved towards each other and away from each other by means of a pneumatic piston- cylinder unit (61, 62, 63).

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the pistion (61) of the piston- cylinder unit is connected to the pressure element or pressure elements (57) on the one side, and the cylinder (62) is connected with the pressure element or pressure elements (58) on the other side of the plane (10) of movement of the panes.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle (36, 36a) and the separator (55) that precedes it, are arranged on a common carrier (50).

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle (36, 36a) itself forms the separator.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the separator (55) consists, at least on its sides, of a plastic having a low coefficient of friction.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet orifice or outlet orifices (53, 54) of the nozzle (36, 36a) that penetrates into the space between the two panes of glass (31, 32) is/are oriented opposite to the direction of relative movement of the nozzle (36, 36a) relative to the panes of glass (31, 32).

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the moveable nozzle (36) can be pivoted about an axis (37) that is perpendicular to the plane (10) of movement of the panes sequentially by, in each instance, an angle of 90°.

18. An apparatus according to claims 10, 13 and 17, characterized in that the nozzle (36), the separator (55) that is optionally formed separate from this, and the pressure elements (57, 58) are arranged on a common carrier (50) and can be moved and pivoted with this.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle (36, 36a) has two outlet orifices (53, 54) that are closely adjacent.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the two feed channels (51, 52) that open out into the two outlet orifices (53, 54) are arranged in the nozzle (36) so as to meet obliquely.

21. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 16, characterized in that two feed channels are arranged in the nozzle (36, 36a), these opening out into a common nozzle orifice.

22. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting elements (11, 12) that hold the front or upper pane of glass (31), resp., at a distance from the other pane of glass (32) engage said pane of glass only in the vicinity of its edge.

23. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 22, characterized in that the distance of the supporting elements (11, 12) for the foremost or the upper pane of glass (31), resp., can be varied from the plane (10) of movement of the panes.

24. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that two rows of supporting elements (11, 12) are provided for the lateral support of the pane of glass (31) that is arranged in front of the plane (10) of movement of the panes, these rows being parallel to the direction of movement of the horizontal conveyor (3, 4, 41) of which at least one can be moved parallel to the plane (10) of movement of the panes transversely to the direction (x) of movement of the panes.

25. An apparatus according to claim 4 and claim 24, characterized in that one row of supporting elements (11) projects only slightly above the set-up plane of the horizontal conveyor (3, 4, 41) and the other row of supporting elements (12) can be adjusted for height above this.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the supporting elements (11) for the lower edge of the foremost pane of glass (31) can be lowered beneath the set-up plane of the horizontal conveyor (3, 4, 41).

27. An apparatus according to claim 17 and claim 25, characterized in that the horizontal conveyor comprises at least two separately driveable sections (3, 4) that are arranged one behind the other, in that the supporting elements (11, 12), which are used for the major surface of the pane of glass (31) lying at a distance of the plane (10) of movement of the panes, and which are arranged in the first section (3) of the horizontal conveyor can be adjusted separately from those in the second section (4), and in that the first section (3) of the horizontal conveyor, together with its supporting elements (9, 11, 12) for the two panes of glass (31, 32) is moveable in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane (10) of movement of the panes.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, characterized in that the first section (3) of the horizontal conveyor for the two panes of glass (31, 32) comprises two separate upright conveyors, these being arranged next to each other and parallel to each other, and which can be selected so as to be driveable either separately or commonly and synchronously.

29. An apparatus according to claim 27 or 28 with only a single nozzle (36) or with two nozzles (36, 36a) of which one (36) is arranged at the level of the upright conveyor (7) and is provieded only to produce a strip (67) along the lower edge of the panes of glass (31, 32), characterized in that the nozzles (36, 36a) as viewed in the direction (x) of movement of the panes are arranged subsequently to the second section (4) of the horizontal conveyor, and in that the second section (4) is followed by a third section (41) of the horizontal conveyor.

30. A device according to any of the claims 27 to 29, characterized in that the upright conveyor which is arranged in the last section (41) of the horizontal conveyor, comprises supports (45, 46) gripping the panes of glass (31, 32) without disturbing the lower edge joint formed between them.

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