EP0435077B1 - Method and apparatus for making a space keeping profile for thermopane glass - Google Patents

Abstract

To make a space-keeping profile, especially one for thermopane glass, a hollow section (2) is bent in each of the corner regions of the profile, for example with four corresponding bends of about 90 DEG , in order to form a square or rectangular profile. The hollow section (2) is first of all filled with desiccant, during which procedure it can be arranged in a tilted position. At its lower end, it is sealed, for example, with a straight connecting piece (9), by means of which it is connected to a further hollow section (2) or, if the length of the hollow section (2) corresponds exactly to the profile circumference itself, it can be sealed. The desiccant (3) is introduced into this hollow section (2) at the upper end (12), after which it is laid in an approximately horizontal position and fed to a bending device and finally bent to form the profile. According to the invention, the hollow section is filled completely, although, if required, it may also be filled only partially, and then partially emptied again to give a reduced degree of filling, and the partial filling which it contains is distributed over its length with the hollow section (2) in a horizontal position and the hollow section is then bent. The partial emptying and/or the distribution of the partial quantity of desiccant contained in the hollow section - in particular after partial emptying has taken place - can be distributed with the aid of a vibrator (10). The vibrator (10) can shake the hollow section (2) backwards and forwards with the desiccant quantity contained in it in an approximately horizontal direction in the direction of alignment of the hollow section. The partial quantity of desiccant discharged can be measured using an appropriate measuring device in order thereby to determine the partial quantity remaining in the hollow section and, after partial emptying, to switch over the vibration process automatically to a mode which gives the most uniform distribution of the remaining desiccant in the hollow section (2).

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

From FR-A-24 05 907 it is already known to fill the hollow profile with desiccant before bending. This means that only relatively large bending radii are possible in the bending area, because otherwise the desiccant located in the interior of the hollow profile would burst open the bending area.

DE-A-32 21 986 therefore discloses a metering device which is used to fill hollow profiles which have not yet been deformed, these hollow profiles having a relatively large wall thickness. This makes it possible to simultaneously roll and thereby stretch these hollow profiles on the outside of the bend during the bending process, so that the resistance of the filled desiccant against the tightest possible bend during the bending process does not lead to tearing of the profile. The desiccant is also displaced somewhat in the bending area by the rolling process. A device for producing such a bend is known from DE-A-33 12 764.

A bending device is known from EP-A-0 146 883, in which the bending area of the profile is drilled in order to empty or partially empty it (uncontrolled). This means additional mechanical effort for the drilling process and above all represents damage to the profile. The desiccant is supposed to pass through the hole mentioned be sucked off, which can cause desiccant to flow into the bending area.

The object is therefore to create a method of the type mentioned at the outset and a device for carrying it out, with the result that the desiccant can be filled in as far as possible over the entire length of the profile before the bends are applied, but hollow profiles with thin wall thicknesses are nevertheless used can, which allow a narrow inner radius of the individual bends, without the desiccant already precipitated leading to a burst during its bending, it being intended to ensure that the bending area is at least partially freed from desiccant. Additional measures such as openings in the profile webs should be avoided.

A first solution to this problem for a generic method is achieved by the features and measures of the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

There is therefore a targeted, measured partial emptying of the hollow profile before the actual bending process and, moreover, the remaining partial filling is distributed over the length of the hollow profile, so that there is no longer any complete filling of the cross section with desiccant in the bending areas. In this way it is achieved that desiccant is contained in all the frame legs of the frame thus formed and thus a good effect on the subsequent space between the panes is possible. Nevertheless, there is a reduced amount of desiccant in each case in the bending area compared to the inner cross section of the hollow profile, so that the bending can be carried out without problems, for example in accordance with DE-A-37 40 921, in which the two webs running transversely to the individual panes of the insulating glass pane are in the bending area to be approximated to one to enable a correspondingly tight bend, which can have a smaller bending radius than can be achieved with the bending method according to FR-A-24 05 907.

A second solution to the problem is specified in claim 2. In this alternative, partial emptying after the filling process can be avoided, but additional measures are required for dosing the desiccant as precisely as possible when filling it, which can be dispensed with if, on the other hand, an excessive filling is first provided and then an easier, measurable partial emptying is carried out. With this second solution too, the desiccant is distributed approximately uniformly over the length of the hollow profile, so that the bending areas are not completely filled with desiccant.

A particularly expedient embodiment of the method according to the invention can consist in that the hollow profile is moved back and forth after filling and after its horizontal alignment for partial emptying and / or for the distribution of its partial filling, in particular in its longitudinal direction. Such a shaking process in the direction of extension of the hollow profile can, depending on its design and control, be used well to carry out as even a distribution of the desiccant as possible and, in the event of overfilling, also to carry out the corresponding partial emptying at the unsealed end.

It is advantageous if, after filling and approximately horizontal positioning, the hollow profile is first shaken for partial emptying at different speeds of its back and forth movements, the speed of the hollow profile being chosen to be lower in the direction of its open end than in the opposite direction, and in particular by the Reversal of movement a part of its filling is discharged at its open end opposite the closure, and when the hollow profile is then shaken with approximately the same lifting speeds in both directions and possibly higher frequency for - in particular uniform - distribution of the (remaining) partial filling inside.

So that the method can also be used without problems for hollow profiles of different cross sections, one embodiment of the invention can consist in that the profile thickness is measured and this measured value is entered into the control for partial emptying, in particular into a programmable logic controller, so that from hollow profiles with different cross-sections and accordingly different absorption capacities, different partial quantities are discharged. In this case, the measurement of the profile thickness can first be used to determine which of the filling quantities provided for different profile thicknesses are available, of which a corresponding part is then to be carried out in accordance with a preprogramming of the control system, which is "reported" by the measuring device to the control system. becomes.

Especially when combining the options described above, when filling a profile, the procedure can be such that it is only partially filled before applying its bends, so that there is sufficient flexibility in the bending areas of the webs to be deformed, and therefore also relatively thin-walled hollow profiles can be bent into frames, in which drying medium is subsequently in all frame legs. It has been shown that the frame legs do not necessarily have to be completely filled with desiccant, but a partial filling can also have a high and long-lasting effect, in particular if this partial filling affects all frame legs.

The invention is also based on the object of proposing a device for carrying out the above-described method with a bending device, a preferably horizontal feed section for the hollow profile to be bent and a holder for the rod-shaped hollow profile before bending in an inclined position and with a filling device for this hollow profile.

The solution of this device according to the invention is that is approximately horizontal feed for the filled hollow profile has a vibrator for reciprocating the hollow profile. With such a vibrator, the hollow profile can be partially emptied in the horizontal position with the filling end open, or a partial filling can be well distributed inside the hollow profile, it being expedient if the discharge side is closed after the partial emptying. It is thus possible in a simple manner to produce an initially "overfilled" hollow profile by filling it either completely or not completely, but more than required and desired for the bends, after which it can be emptied so far with the aforementioned vibrator, until the desired partial filling is reached. A good distribution of the desiccant can already be achieved by the "emptying shaking", but the distribution can be made as even as possible in a further shaking process, for example with other shaking strokes and / or frequencies, with the emptying end now closed. Since after each bending process the corresponding bent corner is almost closed due to the deformation of the webs is, there is no fear of slipping back of its filling into the still horizontal area of the hollow profile, even if a respective frame leg is bent upwards.

A particularly expedient and structurally simple configuration of the device can consist in the fact that the vibrator has a tensioning device which can be moved and guided approximately in the direction of extension of the hollow profile, in particular horizontally back and forth, for detecting the hollow profile to be shaken, preferably at the end closed by a straight connector or the like. Such an attack of a tensioning device is particularly useful at the closed end because, due to the closure of the hollow profile, it can absorb correspondingly high tensioning forces without being deformed despite its relatively thin wall thicknesses, so that the necessary vibrating movements can be transmitted well.

In the direction of orientation of the hollow profile in front of the vibrating device and its tensioning device, a support for the hollow profile and in the region of the end of the hollow profile opposite the vibrator, a collecting device for excess desiccant can be provided. In this way, the hollow profile can be guided and shaken back and forth in a constant orientation and thus partially emptied again at its original filling end, the amount of desiccant discharged being able to be collected.

The support can be pivotable about a horizontal axis arranged transversely to its extension. It can then already serve as support for the hollow profile if it is closed in its inclined position after the closure of its lower end and later lying in the feed direction and then filled. From this filling position, the profile then only needs to be pivoted into the horizontal or a less inclined position in order to be partially emptied by shaking to be able to.

For a precise partial emptying of the overfilled desiccant, it is expedient if the collecting device for this dry agent has a measuring device. Since the amount of desiccant poured into the profile is known or can be determined from the filling process - easiest if the entire profile is filled completely - it can be predetermined which amount of desiccant is to be discharged again in order to achieve the desired practical part. Get filling for the later spacing frame.

The collecting device can have a measuring container with a filling level measuring device, so that the filling quantity can be determined via the volume, that is to say the percentage filling of the inner cavity of the hollow profile can be preselected. Of course, a measuring device designed as a balance would also be conceivable.

The collecting device can be designed as a funnel, the funnel opening of which is directed into the measuring container. This ensures that, despite the shaking movements, the desiccant gets safely and completely into the measuring container.

The fill level sensor or the like can control the vibrating device - if necessary via a computer or a programmable controller - and shut it down when a certain fill level is reached in the measuring container or switch to vibrating aimed only at distributing the remaining desiccant, in which, for example, the back and forth movements are designed in length and / or frequency so that the desiccant is no longer conveyed out of the discharge opening. In some cases, the discharge end can also be closed in the event of a brief stoppage of the vibrating device. It is particularly useful if the level sensor controls the vibrating device in such a way that, after reaching a certain level or a predetermined weight in the measuring container, it is driven with a modified frequency and / or strokes to distribute the amount of filling remaining in the hollow profile.

It is expedient if the vibrating drive is program-controlled and has one or more, in particular at least two, vibrating programs, the first of which is used to discharge an excess filling quantity and the second is used to distribute the remaining partial quantity over the length of the hollow profile piece.

It is particularly simple and expedient if the return stroke speed of the vibrator in the direction of the closed end of the hollow profile is greater than the advance stroke speed to the open end of the hollow profile and if the advance stroke speed and return stroke speed during the shaking process to distribute the partial filling over the length of the hollow profile are approximately the same. In this case, therefore, only the speeds of the individual back and forth movements need to be designed differently or identically in order first to achieve a partial emptying of the hollow profile and then to distribute the remaining filling. If only a correctly dosed portion has been filled in beforehand, it is sufficient to distribute this filling over the length of the hollow profile with approximately the same forward and return stroke speeds.

The drive of the vibrator and its tensioning device can be provided with a working cylinder, which can be engaged, in particular reversible, via a lever and a guide. Depending on the pressurization of one or the other side of the piston in this working cylinder, the desired differently fast or possibly also differently long stroke movement of the vibrator and its clamping device can be achieved be carried out in a targeted and controlled manner.

The desiccant discharged from the overfilled hollow section should expediently be reused. One embodiment of the invention therefore provides that the measuring container or the like is arranged on a collecting container for desiccant and a slide or the like openable closure is provided between the measuring container and collecting container. After the amount of desiccant that has been discharged is determined in the measuring container and the shaking program is then reversed, this desiccant that has been discharged can get into the collecting container by opening the closure between the measuring container and the collecting container. Thus, such a quantity of desiccant can gradually accumulate that it can then be added to or added to the desiccant supply used for the first filling of the hollow profiles.

It is expedient if the collecting container is sealed essentially airtight below the measuring container so that this drying agent remains effective.

In order to be able to process profiles of different cross-sections on this device, a measuring sensor or the like can be used on a clamping jaw or the like of the jogger's clamping device, in particular on the clamping jaw which can be set against it, preferably from above, for measuring the path of this clamping jaw and thus be provided for determining the profile thickness or height of the hollow profile, this sensor preferably being connected or coupled to the control for the partial emptying of the hollow profile in such a way that different partial quantities are discharged from hollow profiles with different cross sections and accordingly different absorption capacities for desiccants. It is for quick adjustment Different hollow profiles are useful if the control for the vibrator and partial emptying is programmable.

The sensor of the tensioning device of the vibrator which is used to determine the emptying quantity via the profile thickness can expediently be a displacement sensor. The latter can mechanically determine the movement of the clamping jaw from its starting position to its end position that detects the hollow profile, this path depending on the thickness of the hollow profile to be clamped when the counter clamping jaw is fixed. Since this should lie approximately in alignment with the support for the hollow profile in its horizontal position, it can have this position from the start or a corresponding area of the horizontal support can possibly form this standing clamping jaw, since it also takes part in the pivoting movements.

Overall, there is a device with which a completely or even partially filled hollow profile can be partially emptied in a very simple and quick manner until it has such a degree of filling over its cross-sectional height that bending with a small inner radius is not hindered or does not lead to it that the outside of the bend bursts, even if the walls and webs of the hollow profile have only a small thickness. In particular, a complete filling of the profile facilitates the filling process, since a predetermined partial filling would require a correspondingly precise dosage.

Fig.1

eine als Schwenkbalken ausgebildete Auflage für ein Hohlprofil in Schrägstellung, wobei das darauf befindliche Hohlprofil am unteren Ende verschlossen ist und am oberen Ende mit Trockenmittel befüllt wird,

Fig.2

in vergrößertem Maßstab eine Rüttelvorrichtung mit einer Spannvorrichtung, die das verschlossene Ende des Hohlprofiles in horizontal verschwenkter Lage des Auflagebalkens erfaßt und in horizontaler Richtung hin- und herbewegt, um einen überfüllten Anteil des Trockenmittels an dem ursprünglichen Füllende auszutragen, wo eine Auffang- und Meßvorrichtung für dieses ausgetragene Trockenmittel angeordnet ist,

Fig.3

ein Diagramm mit Darstellung der Geschwindigkeiten der Hin- und Herbewegung des Rüttlers zunächst beim Teilentleeren und anschließend beim Verteilen der verbliebenen Füllmenge über die Zeit,

Fig.4

ein Diagramm der Hub-Strecken des Rüttlers und der dabei vorgesehenen Frequenzen zunächst beim Entleeren und anschließend beim Nivellieren bzw. Verteilen des verbliebenen Trockenmittels wiederum über die Zeit sowie

Fig.5

eine der Fig.2 entsprechende Darstellung einer Vorrichtung, bei welcher die Messung des aus dem Hohlprofil entleerten Trockenmittels über einen Wiegebehälter erfolgt und das Hohlprofil für die Nivellierung leicht schräggestellt wird.

The invention with its associated details is described in more detail with reference to the drawings in an embodiment. It shows in a partially schematic representation:

Fig. 1

a support designed as a swivel bar for a hollow profile in an inclined position, the one located thereon Hollow profile is closed at the lower end and is filled with desiccant at the upper end,

Fig. 2

on an enlarged scale, a vibrating device with a clamping device, which detects the closed end of the hollow profile in the horizontally pivoted position of the support beam and reciprocates in the horizontal direction in order to discharge an overfilled proportion of the desiccant at the original filling end, where a collecting and measuring device for this discharged desiccant is arranged,

Fig. 3

1 shows a diagram showing the speeds of the back and forth movement of the vibrator, first when partially emptying and then when the remaining filling quantity is distributed over time,

Fig. 4

a diagram of the stroke distances of the vibrator and the frequencies provided first when emptying and then when leveling or distributing the remaining desiccant again over time and

Fig. 5

a representation corresponding to Figure 2 of a device in which the measurement of the desiccant emptied from the hollow profile is carried out via a weighing container and the hollow profile is slightly inclined for leveling.

A device designated as a whole by 1, which can be seen schematically above all in FIGS. 2 and 5, but also in part in FIG. 1, is used in the manufacture of a spacer frame from a hollow profile 2 to be bent in the corner regions thereof, before the bending process perform the filling with desiccant 3 in such a way that later the frame contains desiccant 3 in all frame legs, but this nevertheless when carrying out the bend, the production of narrow bending radii is not hindered and does not lead to an overload of the material of the hollow profile in the bending area, even if the thickness of the walls 4 of the hollow profile 2 is small for reasons of cost and weight.

The device 1 can, for example, belong to a machine as described in DE-OS 32 21 986, wherein a bending device according to DE-PS 37 40 921 can expediently be used in the bending station. The device 1 is also useful in connection with differently designed bending machines and bending devices.

When comparing FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be seen that this device 1 has a horizontal feed path for the hollow profile 2 to be bent and a holder for the rod-shaped hollow profile 2 in an inclined position and a filling device 5 for this hollow profile 2. The holder is a support 6 which is pivotable about a horizontal axis 7 arranged transversely to its extension. In the inclined position of this support 6 shown in FIG. 1, a hollow profile 2 resting on it and closed at its lower end 8 with a straight connector 9 can be filled with desiccant 3 from above.

In the position folded into the horizontal position according to FIG. 2, there is a horizontal feed for the filled profile 2 to the machine (not shown in more detail) and this feed has a vibrator, generally designated 10, for the reciprocation of the hollow profile 2 in its direction of extension on. The vibrator 10 has a tensioning device 11, which can be moved back and forth approximately in the direction of extension of the profile 2, for gripping the hollow profile 2 to be shaken at its end 8 which is closed by the straight connector 9.

This arrangement serves that the hollow profile 2 after filling From its inclined position shown in FIG. 1, it can first be tilted into the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 and then partially emptied again in this position, so that the interior of the drying agent 3 is not a hindrance during the subsequent bending process. The remaining part is distributed in the position shown in Figure 2 over the length of the hollow profile 2, after which the actual bending takes place. The hollow profile 2 is thus initially filled with desiccant 3 - in the exemplary embodiment completely, but possibly also only partially - and then the desiccant is partially discharged again from the profile 2 until the desired partial filling is produced, after which this partial filling is evenly distributed if necessary is what the hollow profile 2 is shaken in its horizontal orientation and in its longitudinal direction according to the double arrow Pf 1 of Figure 2.

According to FIG. 2, the support 6 is in the orientation direction and later feed direction of the hollow profile 2 in front of the vibrating device 10 and in the region of the end 12 of the hollow profile 2 opposite the vibrator 10 and the end 8 is a collecting device 13 for excess and desiccant to be discharged provided. This collecting device 13 for the desiccant to be removed or emptied from the hollow profile 2 has a measuring device for this desiccant, which in the exemplary embodiment is designed as a measuring container 14 with a level measuring device 15. In addition to the measuring container 14 for the desiccant, one can see in FIG. 2 a plurality of probes 16 which are arranged one below the other and which "recognize" different fill level heights and can input them into a control 17.

The collecting device itself is essentially designed as a funnel or has this funnel, the funnel opening of which is directed into the measuring container. One can see in Fig. 2 how the open end 12 of the hollow profile 2 opens over this funnel of the collecting device 13 and excess desiccant 3 from this end 12 of the hollow profile 2 first falls into the funnel and from there into the measuring container 14.

The level sensor (s) 16 control the shaking device 10 via the control 17 and can do this when a predetermined level is reached in the measuring container 14, i.e. when a corresponding predetermined amount of desiccant 3 is discharged from the hollow profile 2 and thus a predetermined partial amount in the hollow profile is included, stop or switch to a shaking directed only to distribute this desiccant remaining in the hollow profile.

It is particularly clear in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the level sensor (s) 16 actuate the vibrating device 10 in such a way that after reaching a certain level or a predetermined weight in the measuring container 14 with a modified frequency and / or modified lifting speeds or Lifting heights for the distribution of the filling quantity remaining in the hollow profile 2 is driven. The vibratory drive is expediently program-controlled via the control 17 and has e.g. two vibrating programs, the first of which corresponds to the double arrow Pf 2, the duration of the emptying in the two diagrams according to FIGS. 3 and 4 and to discharge an excess filling quantity and the second according to the double arrow Pf 3 connected to the time to distribute the partial amount over the Length of the hollow profile piece 2 is used.

3 shows that when shaking for discharge or emptying over the time indicated by the double arrow Pf 2, the return stroke speed of the shaker in the direction of the closed end 8 of the hollow profile 2 is greater than the forward stroke speed towards the open end 12. During the jogging process for distributing and leveling. the partial filling on the Length of the hollow profile in the time range of arrow Pf 3, the forward stroke speed and the return stroke speed are each approximately the same size. You can also see that the frequency is initially slower and faster in the second vibration program. The acceleration when reversing the speed is also expediently different when emptying.

Thus, after filling and roughly horizontal positioning, the hollow profile 2 is first shaken for partial emptying at different speeds of its back and forth movements, the speed of the hollow profile being chosen to be lower in the direction of its open end 12 than in the opposite direction - as is shown in FIG. 3 clearly recognizes in the area of the arrow Pf 2 - and with the reversal of movement and the associated braking and subsequent opposite acceleration, part of its filling is discharged or emptied at its open end 12 opposite the closure. The hollow profile 2 is then shaken in its interior at approximately the same lifting speeds in both directions and at a higher frequency in order to distribute the remaining partial filling as evenly as possible. In between, there could possibly be a short period in which the end 12 is also closed, at least temporarily or provisionally. However, it would also be harmless if there was no desiccant 3 at the end 12 of the hollow profile 2 for a short distance, because at this point the protrusion of the straight connector 9 of a next hollow profile 2 should be inserted in order to connect the hollow profile to the hollow profile in this way.

The excess desiccant after filling, which is discharged at the filling end of the hollow profile 2, is measured with the already described collecting device 13, the measuring container 14 and above all the level measuring device 15 and its probes 16. The emptying process is ended when from of the originally filled in, known amount of desiccant, a predetermined partial amount determined when measuring the discharged desiccant has been discharged or emptied again. It follows that the length of the time required for this process, which is symbolized by the arrow Pf 2 in Figures 3 and 4, can vary depending on how quickly this emptying process takes place.

In FIG. 2 it can be seen that the drive of the vibrator 10 and its tensioning device 11 for its reciprocating movement is acted upon by a lever 18 and a guide 19, which consists of a guide bar 20 and a guide sleeve 21, reversible working cylinder 22 is provided.

For the back and forth movement of the guide sleeve 21, so that the clamping device 11 and the piston 23, the cylinder 24 of the working cylinder 22 has two pressure medium inlets, namely one on each side of the piston 23.

In Fig. 2 it can also be seen that the measuring container 14 is arranged on a collecting container 25 for desiccant 3 and that between the measuring container 14 and the collecting container 25 a slide 26 is provided as an openable closure. The slide 26 can be actuated with the aid of a reversible working cylinder 27, which may also be actuated via the control 17 when the emptying process on the hollow profile 2 has ended and the measuring container 14 is to be emptied for the next working cycle. The collecting container 25 below the measuring container 14 is therefore sealed airtight except during the emptying of the measuring container 14, so that the drying agent 3 collected in it is available for reuse, that is, the collecting container 25 can from time to time in the original Desiccant supply or the filling device 5 are emptied.

According to FIG. 2, a lower clamping jaw 28 with its clamping surface 29 is fixedly arranged in an expedient and structurally simple manner in alignment with the support 6 in its horizontal position and for this purpose is fastened, for example welded, to the guide sleeve 21 in this exemplary embodiment. It is thereby achieved that the tensioning device 11 participates in the back and forth movements of the guide sleeve 21 in accordance with the double arrow Pf 1, that is to say the shaking movements on the clamped hollow profile 2.

In Fig. 2 it can also be seen that on the clamping of the hollow profile 2 against this adjustable from above, the second jaw 30, which is actuated by a clamping cylinder 31, a sensor 32 for measuring the path of this jaw 30 from its rest position in the Clamping position and thus for determining the profile thickness or height of the hollow profile 2 is provided. This sensor 32 is connected or coupled to the control 17 for the partial emptying of the hollow profile 2 in such a way that different partial quantities are discharged from hollow profiles with different cross sections and accordingly different absorption capacities in accordance with the different feed paths of the clamping jaw 30 by the vibrator 10 having different lengths or different lengths is operated quickly and / or with different stroke. Via this sensor 32, the fill level measuring device 15 can be signaled how much desiccant must be discharged from a completely filled profile, for example, until it contains its desired partial filling. If it is a relatively thick or high profile, more desiccant must be discharged - in absolute terms - before the vibrating device 10 may be stopped than is the case with a profile 2 with a smaller cross section.

In this context, it is expedient if the control 17 for the vibrator 10 and the partial emptying is programmable so that the device 1 can, if necessary, also be adjusted to consistently modified hollow profile cross sections or heights. The sensor 32 for determining the emptying quantity via the profile thickness on the clamping device 11 or the clamping jaw 30 of the vibrator 10 is expediently a displacement transducer which can very easily measure the respective displacement distance of the clamping jaw 30 from its initial position into the clamping position. The clamping process itself is indicated by the arrows Pf 4 facing each other on the corresponding and opposite clamping jaws 28 and 30. 2 shows the clamping jaw 30 in the corresponding closed position of the clamping device 11.

In the exemplary embodiment, the procedure is such that the profile thickness is measured and this measured value is entered into the controller 17 for partial emptying, expediently into a programmable logic controller, so that from hollow profiles with different cross-sections and accordingly different internal volumes or filling quantities of desiccant, correspondingly different partial quantities this desiccant 3 are discharged. Depending on the profile thickness, one or the other of the measuring probes 16 can be activated.

To produce a spacing frame, in particular for insulating glass panes, it is provided to bend a hollow profile 2 in each of the corner regions of the frame, for example to provide four matching bends of approximately 90 ° in order to form a square or rectangular frame. The hollow profile 2 is first filled with desiccant, whereby it can be arranged in an inclined position. At its lower end, it is closed, for example, with a straight connector 9, with which it is connected to a further hollow profile 2 or if the length of the hollow profile 2 is exactly the same can be locked with the frame size itself last. The desiccant 3 is filled into this hollow profile 2 at the high end 12, after which it is brought into an approximately horizontal position and fed to a bending device and finally bent to the frame. It is provided according to the invention that the hollow profile is completely, if necessary only partially, filled and then partially emptied to a desired reduced filling level and that the partial filling contained in it is distributed over its length at an approximately horizontal position of the hollow profile 2 and the hollow profile is then bent becomes. The partial emptying and / or the distribution of the partial amount of desiccant contained in the hollow profile - especially after the partial emptying - can be distributed with the help of a vibrator 10, the vibrator 10, the hollow profile 2 with the amount of desiccant contained in it in an approximately horizontal direction in the orientation direction of the hollow profile can shake back and forth. The discharged portion of the desiccant can be measured with an appropriate measuring device in order to thereby determine the portion remaining in the hollow profile and to switch the vibrating process automatically after the partial emptying to one which effects the most uniform distribution of the remaining desiccant in the hollow profile 2.

5 shows an expedient embodiment of the method, in particular during the distribution or leveling of the partial filling remaining in the hollow profile 2. Accordingly, the hollow profile 2 can be pivoted before or during the distribution of its partial filling and its end 12 opposite the closure - by the straight connecting piece 9 - can be adjusted higher from the emptying position, if this is horizontal. The pivoting in turn takes place about axis 7.

Fig. 5 indicates that the entire vibrating device 10 is pivoted accordingly. Furthermore, in Fig. 5, that this slight inclination could exist even during partial emptying. Finally, it would be conceivable that a slight inclination - possibly even to the other side - is assumed during partial emptying, which is then gradually changed in preparation for and finally to carry out the distribution of the desiccant in the hollow profile 2 such that this distribution according to FIG. 5 can also be supported by gravity.

From the control it is particularly simple, however, if the hollow profile 2 is approximately horizontal during the partial emptying according to FIG. 2, but is then transferred to the position according to FIG. 5 during the last phase of the partial emptying or after it has ended. In any case, the inclined position shown in FIG. 5 has a lower inclination than that of the filling position according to FIG. 1.

Fig. 5 also shows that essentially a balance with a weighing container 33 can be provided as a level measuring device 15, which in turn, when reaching a certain filling quantity in the weighing container 33, the vibrating device 10 is stopped and / or on to distribute the remaining in the hollow profile Desiccant-directed shaking can be switched. Furthermore, the weighing can also be used to change the inclined position of the hollow profile via the control 17.

The weighing container 33 can be adjusted or displaced, for example, against a restoring force, in the exemplary embodiment against the force of a spring 34 proportional to the increase in the weight of its filling of desiccant, while at the same time acting on a scale or a potentiometer 35 which works with the Controller 17 is connected. The majority of the weighing container 33 is again funnel-shaped.

The weighing container 33 engages telescopically with an emptying nozzle 36 and, in the exemplary embodiment, vertically into a filling nozzle 37 of the collecting container 25, so that the desiccant from the weighing container 33 despite the relative movement of the weighing container 33 relative to the collecting container 25 practically without contact with the ambient atmosphere in the Collection container 25 can be transferred.

Claims (27)

1. A method of making a spacer frame, particularly for thermopane glass, from a hollow profile (2) which is to be bent in each of the corner zones of the frame and is filled with drying agent (3), wherein prior to the bending operation the hollow profile (2) is preferably arranged in an inclined position, is closed at its low-lying end (8) particularly by a straight connecting piece (9) and then the drying agent (3) is filled at the elevated end (12), after which the hollow profile (2) is put into an approximately horizontal position and is fed to a bending device, is at least partly freed from drying agent in the bending zone and is then bent, characterized in that having been filled but prior to being bent, the hollow profile (2) is partially emptied again to a desired reduced degree of filling and the partial filling it contains is distributed over the length of the hollow profile (2) in an approximately horizontal position, that the drying agent to be removed is discharged or let off at the filling end (12) of the hollow profile (2) and the discharged or let off quantity of drying agent is measured, and that the operation of emptying the hollow profile (2) is concluded when of the originally filled, known amount of drying agent (3), a predetermined partial amount detected in measuring the discharged drying agent has been emptied again.
2. A method as claimed in the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the hollow profile (2) is filled - partially - with the drying agent (3) in an amount corresponding to the desired degree of filling, said partial amount of drying agent being accurately dosed, and that then the drying agent (3) is more or less uniformly distributed over the length of the hollow profile (2).
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that having been filled and oriented horizontally, the hollow profile (2) is reciprocated an vibrated, particularly in the direction of its longitudinal expanse, for partly emptying and/or for distributing the partial filling of the same.
4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that having been filled and positioned approximately horizontally, the hollow profile (2) is initially vibrated with varying speeds of its reciprocating movements for being partly emptied, the speed of the hollow profile (2) being selected to be preferably lower in the direction of its open end (12) than in the opposite direction, and particularly through the return of motion part of the filling of the hollow profile being removed at its open end (12) opposite the closure, and that subsequently the hollow profile (2) is vibrated with approximately the same speed of stroke in both directions and possibly higher frequency for the partial filling in its interior to be distributed, particularly in a uniform fashion.
5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that after the partial emptying the open end (12) of the hollow profile (2) is closed.
6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that prior to or during the distribution of its partial filling, the hollow profile (2) is swung and preferably its end (12) opposite the closure is elevated, departing from the emptying position.
7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the profile thickness is measured and said measured value is entered into the controller (17) for the partial emptying, particularly into a programmable controller (17), so that hollow profiles (2) of different cross sections and consequently with different filling quantities have drying agent (3) removed from them in partial amounts differing accordingly.
8. An apparatus (1) for performing the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a bending device, a preferably horizontal feedway for the hollow profile (2) to be bent and a mount for the bar-shaped hollow profile (2) prior to bending in an inclined position, as well as a filling device (5) for said hollow profile, characterized in that the approximately horizontal feed for the filled hollow profile has a vibrator (10) for reciprocation of the hollow profile (2).
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the vibrator (10) has a work fixture (11) which is adapted to reciprocate and is guided approximately in the direction in which the hollow profile (2) extends, particularly horizontally, and serves to take hold of the hollow profile (2) to be vibrated, particularly at the end (8) thereof closed by a straight connector (9) or the like.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that a support (6) for the hollow profile (2) is provided in the direction in which the latter is oriented, in front of the vibrator (10) and work fixture (11) belonging thereto, and a collecting device (13) for excess drying agent is provided in the region of that end (12) of the hollow profile (2) which is opposite the vibrator (10).
11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the support (6) is swivel-mounted about a horizontal axis (7) arranged crosswise to the direction in which said support extends, so as to depart from the filling position of the hollow profile (2) to assume the horizontal position and/or particularly an inclined position of preferably less inclination than in the filling position.
12. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the collecting device (13) for drying agent (3) to be emptied from the hollow profile (2) has a measuring device for said drying agent.
13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the collecting device (13) has a measuring vessel (14) with a level measuring device (15).
14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the collecting device (13) takes the form of a funnel whose opening is directed into the measuring vessel (14).
15. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the level detector (16), scales or the like, controls the vibrator (10) directly or indirectly and, when a certain filling amount in the measuring vessel (14) or weighing hopper (33) has been reached, stops the vibrator and/or switches the same over to vibrating aimed only at distributing the drying agent left in the hollow profile.
16. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that the level detector(s) (16) controls the vibrator (10) in such a way that, after a certain level or weight in the measuring vessel (14) has been reached, said vibrator is driven with an altered frequency and/or altered speeds of stroke or possibly lengths of stroke for distribution of the filling amount left in the hollow profile (2), and possibly is set at an angle.
17. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 16, characterized in that the drive of the vibrator (10) is program-controlled and has one or a plurality of vibrating programs, particularly two, the first of which serves for discharging an excess filling amount and the second of which serves for distributing the remaining partial amount over the length of the hollow profile (2).
18. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 17, characterized in that during vibration for discharge, the return stroke speed of the vibrator (10) in a direction towards the closed end (8) of the hollow profile (2) is greater than the forward stroke speed towards the open end (12) of the hollow profile (2), and that during the vibrating operation for distributing the partial filling over the length of the hollow profile (2), forward stroke speed and return stroke speed are approximately the same.
19. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 18, characterized in that the drive of the vibrator (10) and work fixture (11) thereof is provided in the form of a working cylinder (22), particularly a reversible one, acting upon said work fixture possibly by way of a lever (18) and a guide (19), particularly a guide bush (21).
20. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 19, characterized in that the measuring vessel (14), weighing hopper or the like, is arranged on a collecting vessel (25) for drying agent (3) and provided between measuring vessel (14) and collecting vessel (25) is a slide (26) or like openable closure.
21. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 20, characterized in that the collecting vessel (25) underneath the measuring vessel (14) is substantially hermetically sealed.
22. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 21, characterized in that provided at one clamping jaw or the like of the work fixture (11) of the vibrator (10), particularly at the clamping jaw (30) adapted to be fed, preferably from above, towards the hollow profile (2) for clamping the same, is a detecting element (32) or like sensor for measuring the path of said clamping jaw (30) as the work fixture (11) closes and thereby for determining the profile thickness or height of the hollow profile (2), and that the detecting element (32) is preferably connected or coupled to the controller (17) for partly emptying the hollow profile (2) in such a way that hollow profiles with different cross sections and consequently different capacities and filling volumes have drying agent removed from them in partial amounts differing accordingly.
23. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 22, characterized in that the controller (17) for the vibrator (10) and the partial emptying is programmable particularly with respect to different cross sections of the profiles.
24. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 23, characterized in that the detecting element (32), which belongs to the work fixture (11) of the vibrator (10) and serves for the discharge amount to be determined by way of the profile thickness, is a displacement sensor.
25. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 24, characterized in that the clamping jaw (28) of the work fixture (11) opposite the movable clamping jaw (30) is stationary and the clamping face (29) thereof is arranged approximately in alignment with the horizontally oriented support (6) and in particular is connected to the guide bush (21) of the guide (19).
26. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 25, characterized in that the weighing hopper (33) of the level measuring device (15) is displaceable or movable, e.g. is lowerable, against a restoring force, particularly against the resilience of a spring (34), proportionally to the increase in weight of its filling, and in particular is connected to the controller (17) via a potentiometer (35) for the like.
27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that the weighing hopper (33) with a discharge neck engages in or over a filler neck (37) of the collecting vessel (25) in a telescopically adjustable way, particularly vertically.

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