EP0709538A1 - Transfer device for spacer frames - Google Patents

Abstract

The transfer device (1) for transferring or feeding finished spacer frames (2) for insulating glass panes for further processing or for stacking such spacer frames has an intermediate store (5) and a removal device (6) for removing individual spacer frames (2) from the intermediate store (5). on. So that frames of different dimensions can be transferred and removed in the same way, the intermediate storage (5) has a horizontal support bar (7) with a free end (8), which is held by one each, as a hanging device for the spacer frames (2) Corner of the attached spacer frame (2) is overlapped, which are suspended with a downward or vertical diagonal. The spacer frames (2) can be displaced along the support bar (7) transversely to the plane spanned by them, the foremost spacer frame (2a) each coming into the area of a take-over piece (9) of a removal device (6). This take-over piece (9) can be fed into the hanging area of the spacer frame (2) closest to the free end (8) of the support beam (7) in overlap with the support beam (7), expediently in that either the free end (8) of the Tragholmes (7) or the take-over piece (9) is slotted and one can intervene in the other. As a result, the take-over piece (9) can also engage in the corner region or the inner region of the frame of the front spacer frame, lift it up and move it away from the other spacer frames. The engagement is dimensioned so that the next spacer frame (2) is not detected. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a transfer device for transferring or feeding finished spacer frames for insulating glass panes for further processing, in particular for a device for applying sealing compound to side surfaces of these spacer frames to be covered with glass panes, with a suspension device having, in particular, adjustable or movable intermediate storage and having a spacer frame with a removal device for removing individual spacer frames from the intermediate store.

Such a transfer device is known from DE-36 32 282 C1 and from EP-0 261 471 B1, in particular FIG. 10. A large number of spacer frames of different dimensions can be supported in any order on a trolley with a frame leg, which also serves as an intermediate store, and can be lifted and separated by parallel support bars that can be adjusted in height on the intermediate store and that grip the inside of an upper horizontal frame leg . The removal device is an elaborate conveyor element with hooks, which are placed in the previously isolated frame intervene in order to then promote them. The frames must then be removed from these hooks in order to be able to carry them on for further processing.

This means that the spacer frames after their manufacture, in which they often hang approximately vertically with their diagonals, as is expedient in the manufacture according to DE-37 40 922 C2, first placed on the intermediate carriage by such a manufacturing machine, pivoted in the process and then have to be transported further. It is also unfavorable that each spacer frame subsequently detected must be grasped on at least two horizontal support bars engaging in it, so that correspondingly many support bars are required side by side for different frame sizes and the means for removal and onward transport to a processing station must take this into account.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device of the type mentioned, with which the transportation of a finished spacer frame for further processing, in particular to a device for applying the sealant, is simplified and, above all, also possible for frames of different dimensions without a large number of support bars is required for these differently sized frames.

The solution to this problem is that the intermediate storage as a hanging device has at least one one-sided, horizontal support beam with a free end, which support beam is overlapped by one corner of the attached spacer frame, that the spacer frame transverse to the plane they span in the longitudinal direction of extension Carrier struts are displaceable and that the removal device has a take-over piece which overlaps with in the suspension area of the spacer frame closest to the free end of the support stringer can be delivered to the support beam, in this position at the suspension point of the foremost spacer frame can be raised by engaging it and can be moved away from the support beam together with the resulting spacer frame.

In an advantageous manner, frames can thus hang vertically downwards on the support bar of the intermediate store with their diagonals, so that many spacer frames of different dimensions can be attached to one and the same support bar. A consideration of different dimensions in relatively wide differences in dimensions can be omitted, since the support spar penetrates the corner of these rectangular or square frames, so that they can all hang side by side, as they have previously come from a corresponding manufacturing machine. Thus, even after such a production, there is no rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane spanned by the frame in order to bring the frame legs into a partly horizontal, partly vertical position and then to be able to engage with a horizontal frame leg with at least two support bars. Rather, for the largest number of frame dimensions, a single supporting beam is advantageously sufficient for the intermediate storage and for the transfer to a removal device. Frames of different dimensions can thus all be stored and separated in the same way, since the respective frame size has no influence on the suspension, separation and transfer taking place in a corner of the frame.

A preferred embodiment of the invention can consist in that the take-over piece is arranged on a holder serving as a separating or separating device, which is adjustably mounted in an approximately horizontally oriented sliding guide, and that this horizontal guide is in turn provided on a carriage or the like, who has a guide for an up and down adjustment. Thus, this bracket with the take-over piece in the direction of the support beam can be delivered, with their horizontally oriented sliding guide taking effect, can then be moved up with the help of the other guide, in turn moved back horizontally in this position and then adjusted downward, the downward movement being considerably greater than the previously performed lifting movement, for example in order to close the detected frame to bring a conveyor belt to be explained.

A particularly preferred embodiment can provide that the take-over piece is a pin that has a smaller cross-section than the support bar, that the support bar has at its free end a vertical, open-ended slot, the width of which is equal to or greater than the horizontal cross-sectional dimension of the pin , and that the pin can be inserted into this slot during the infeed movement of the holder carrying it and can be adjusted upwards via the support bar and retractable with the frame accommodated in the process. The pin oriented approximately in the same direction as the support beam can thus overlap through the slot of the support beam with this support beam in the end region and in turn engage in the corner of the frame located on the support beam in the foremost position, which in turn initially still has this corner on the Tragholm hangs. By lifting the pin approximately parallel to itself, the spacer frame is now isolated and raised relative to the other spacer frames hanging on the support bar, that is to say detached from the frame package and then moved away from them, that is to say taken over by the holder and the take-over pin and thus removed from the buffer.

A modification of this advantageous solution can consist in that the free end, preferably with a reduced cross section compared to the supporting beam itself, is overlapped by a take-over piece designed as a fork, which fork can be adjusted by means of the holder, and the end of the supporting beam can be adjusted in height in its slot and with one of the free end of the support bar removed spacer frame can be raised and retracted. In this variant, the pin and the slotted part are, as it were, reversed or interchanged. However, the hanging of the frames in the corner area is also used to attack the foremost frame in this corner area, to separate it by lifting and pushing it away from the other frames and then to convey it further.

A frame slider can be provided for pushing the spacer frames hanging on the support beam after removing the frontmost spacer frame in the feed direction or also for feeding the frame package during a first delivery, which engages in the region of the support beam on the rearmost spacer frame in the feed direction and in particular at least the support beam partially overlaps with a recess. Thus, the corner area of the frame used for suspension can be grasped by such a slide, so that they can be pushed together at the same time until the last spacer frame is removed from the intermediate storage and fed to further processing. Then the slide can be pushed back and the buffer can be equipped with another package of spacer frames.

It is advantageous if, in the position of use, a sliding guide and a drive, in particular a piston drive, are provided for the frame slide, which sliding guide is arranged approximately horizontally and parallel to the supporting beam. Thus, the support beam is not burdened by the slide and its drive and there is also no part of the length of this support beam for attaching a slide with drive, which in itself would also be a conceivable solution.

At the free end of the support beam, a stop can be provided for the frontmost spacer frame in the feed direction, which limits the advancing movement of the spacer frames hanging parallel to one another and preferably touching, and this stop can be moved, in particular pivoted away, from its stop position and from the area of the frames when the front spacer frame is separated and removed. This stop can thus prevent the spacer frames from possibly being advanced too far and the removal device possibly not only detecting the foremost but also the next frame. This stop therefore enables precise positioning, especially of the foremost frame, in relation to the removal device and the transfer piece and its path. It is expedient if the stop arranged in the region of the free end of the support beam is mounted above the support beam and overlaps the support beam approximately in the shape of a fork and can be swiveled up about an axis arranged approximately at right angles to the support beam. The arrangement above the support spar is advantageous for reasons of space, because the frames hang down from the support spar and an arrangement below the support spar could possibly cause difficulties, especially with smaller frames. Due to the pivoting up, a particularly simple movement away of this stop is given when separating and removing the front frame.

For a good separation and takeover of a single spacer frame, it is expedient if a second slide is provided near the free end of the support spar and can be moved in the feed direction, which is located above the hanging frame in the area and at the height to which it is to be suspended serving area of the front isolated spacer frame can be raised by the holder of the removal device and the take-over piece, and if this additional slide has a control by which it can be actuated after the front stop has been pivoted away. This configuration allows after lifting a frame with the Takeover frame to push the frame from the front tip or the front end of the takeover piece on this, so to improve the attachment of the individual frame to the takeover piece. Conversely, this arrangement allows the foremost spacer frame to be grasped at the end only with the aid of the take-over piece, so that the overlap between the support bar and take-over piece can take place in the area of the foremost frame, the dimensions of which are relatively small and into which the take-over piece or the Takeover pin can only intervene to an extent which at most corresponds to the frame thickness, that is to say the subsequent pane spacing, even somewhat less. Such a hitch, in which the take-over piece in the frame does not even extend over its entire thickness or the dimension determining the later distance between the two panes of the insulating glass pane, is initially very unstable and is improved by the additional slide in such a way that the take-over pin or the take-over piece even extends through the entire frame, that is to say with its free end protrudes beyond the frame when the holding device with the take-over piece is moved back again and the frame is then conveyed onward.

The slider for the advance of all spacer frames could indeed be provided on the support bar of the intermediate store, but it is expedient if this slider for the advance of the spacer frames as a whole and the stop are mounted on a carrier connected to the removal device and if this carrier has an alignment clamp for Alignment of the intermediate storage device and, above all, its support bar on the removal device and the adapter piece, which alignment clamp engages in particular near or at the fastening point for the support bar on the intermediate storage device. Thus, the buffer, which is adjustable or movable, can first be provided with spacer frames at a distance from the transfer device and then fed to the transfer device, where it can be moved through the Alignment clamp arrives in a precise position in which slides, stops and, above all, the take-off device arrive in the correct position for the carrying bar and thus for the frames hanging thereon.

In addition to the alignment clamp, the removal device can have a centering or instruction for the support frame or the chassis of the intermediate storage device, as a result of which it can be precentered so that it is inserted into the alignment clamp when it is shifted into the transfer position. This pre-centering thus facilitates the "coupling" of the intermediate store to the take-off device with the aid of the alignment clamp, so that no time is wasted thereby having to first adjust the intermediate store with its support bar in relation to the take-off device. By inserting it into the pre-centering, the buffer already largely receives the correct position, which is then finally determined by the alignment clamp.

For a simple transfer of an isolated spacer frame removed from the intermediate store, for example to a conveying means, which then leads to a further processing station, it is advantageous if the holder of the removal device having the transfer piece can be adjusted relative to a support wall by means of its slide, which can be adjusted up and down, and by means of it Sliding guide opposite the surface of this support wall to the intermediate storage and after setting down a frame behind the support wall is adjustable. The removal device thus allows not only the separation of a spacer frame when taking over from the buffer, but also its transport along a support wall, which ensures alignment of the frame with the plane spanned by it in a desired position, the support wall also preventing the spacer frame from being unwanted Can preserve deformations. By retracting the bracket and the adapter behind the retaining wall, the frame is released when it has reached a means of transport. The take-over piece and its holder can thus be lowered with a spacer frame up to a means of transport, in particular a conveyor belt, and can be retracted behind the supporting wall in this lowered position - releasing the frame.

An embodiment of the invention of very special importance, which has very special meaning and considerable advantages in connection with the separation of the frames when taking over from the buffer and when aligning the frames for depositing on a means of transport, can consist in that the removal device has at least one swivel arm which is pivotable parallel to the plane spanned by the spacer frame between its frame legs, which is arranged on the side of the take-over piece and which directly or indirectly engages the frame leg adjacent to the frame corner serving for hanging and can be pivoted together with the detected spacer frame to such an extent that a Frame leg - expediently one of the longer frame legs in a rectangular frame - is arranged approximately horizontally when lowered onto the conveyor. In this case, the frame after the separation is not only held on the take-over piece, but is additionally grasped by the swivel arm, that is held at at least two points and at the same time aligned so that a frame leg is arranged parallel to a conveyor or conveyor belt. As a result, the lowering onto this conveyor belt and the entrainment of the frame leg by the conveyor belt after the withdrawal of the take-over piece behind the supporting wall is made considerably easier and an undesired deformation of the frame, for example when it is placed on the conveyor belt with a hanging corner, is prevented.

The swivel arm can be arranged on the side of the take-over piece - with its axis approximately parallel to this - on the holder and on the outside of the spacer frame in the sense attack that the frame leg gripped by the swivel arm is acted upon by a compressive force when pivoting from the outside. The swivel arm can thus - with a suitable engagement means - engage on the outside of one of the frame legs on the side of the take-over piece or pin and then pivot the frame around this take-over piece or the take-over pin as a pivot axis. It is particularly advantageous if the pivot axis of the swivel arm is arranged in alignment or continuation of the take-over piece, so that the swivel arm and the frame leg acted upon by it are synchronously and essentially pivotable about a matching center. As a result, relative movements between the point of attack of the swivel arm on the frame leg and this frame leg can be avoided.

A modification can consist in that a swivel arm is arranged laterally to the take-over piece transversely to its direction of extension, which engages in the inside of the frame and acts on the inside of the frame piece adjacent to the take-over piece when swiveling and swiveled into the horizontal position. An arrangement of the pivot axis in the manner described above is also expedient.

A very particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, which in combination with the suspension device according to the invention of the intermediate store and the removal device with the take-over piece for a separation and alignment of an isolated frame when placed on a conveyor is favorable because the frame is gentle but nevertheless safe even with larger dimensions can be held, is that two swivel arms are provided on the bracket, which are pivoted synchronously with each other or possibly also in opposite directions to each other and that one swivel arm on the outside of one frame leg and the other swivel arm inside on the other adjacent to the adapter Frame leg of a spacer frame acts on a conveyor during pivoting and during lowering, the pivot arms thus being arranged at right angles to one another in a plane parallel to the frame plane.

Larger frames in particular are then simultaneously gripped on two frame legs by the two swivel arms and rotated relative to the take-over piece, this simultaneous detection on two frame legs even better preventing or precluding the spacer frame with its corner region from leaving the take-over piece and thus into a labile one Hanging position reached. During the lowering of the spacer frame on a conveyor, it is then fixed as best as possible between the points of application of the two swivel arms, but without having to be gripped by grippers or similar clamping devices, which would both make the detection and the release more complex. After the spacer frame has been placed on a conveyor, a slight swiveling away of either the gripping means of the swivel arms or these swivel arms themselves is sufficient, after which the holder of the removal device can be removed from the region of the offset spacer frame by pulling back with all the gripping means, so that the latter can be easily removed from the conveyor can be, which can be started with a slight delay after lowering, namely when the holder with its means of attack, namely the swivel arms and the adapter piece, is withdrawn from the area of this frame. For example, this can result in a light barrier or a delay switch.

So that the swivel arms can be pivoted relative to the frame, even though they are based on a bearing that is approximately in alignment with the take-over piece, they can - as seen from the intermediate store - be arranged behind the plane spanned by the frame. So that they can still grasp the respective frame on one or two frame legs, it is Expedient if holding shoes are provided on the swivel arms with openings tapering in the pressure direction, on which the frame legs can be centered by the attack of these holding shoes and if the holding shoes projecting into the frame plane can be swung away from the frame when the frame is set down.

On the one or more swivel arms, additional stops or the like, in particular, can be folded out and folded away again from the plane of the frame near their rotary or swivel mounting, which are used to capture smaller frames whose dimensions are too small to be grasped by the holding shoes of the swivel arms become. Thus, the holding shoes can be arranged at a distance from the pivot or swivel mounting of the swivel arms, which lead to a favorable lever transmission when gripping even larger frames. Nevertheless, smaller frames can also be pivoted by additional stops or the like arranged closer to the rotary bearing, in order to be placed on a conveyor in an aligned position.

The invention also allows an embodiment in such a way that frames can also be handled in which the diagonal dimension is so large that the height of the support beam is no longer sufficient. Although one could arrange the support bar of the intermediate store and the take-off device so high in relation to funding that even the largest conceivable frames could be hung with their diagonals and pivoted after the takeover, such large frames are on the one hand relatively rare and on the other hand would be affected by the greater height of the Tragholmes make the cache more complex, in which case the focus would be accordingly higher. Furthermore, the adjustment paths in the downward direction would be larger, which would lead to a loss of time in the case of the normally dimensioned frames. The design option that prevents this provides for such large frames to be suspended from the intermediate store with a frame leg in a horizontal orientation. These Embodiment of the device according to the invention can be characterized in that two further support rails are provided for large frames parallel to the support rail of the intermediate store, the diagonal of which is greater than the free height between the support rail and the conveying means, and that the swivel arms with their holding shoes in the starting position relative to one horizontal position so far obliquely downward that the holding frame horizontally hanging with a frame leg can be pushed over the holding shoe. When taking over a frame hanging horizontally in the starting position, both swivel arms can be arranged in the horizontal position facing away from one another.

In the area of the additional support bars, hold-down devices can be provided which prevent the frame leg located on the support bars from bulging out in the area of the central support bar or limit it to a dimension which is smaller than the overhang of frame legs suspended at a corner from this central support bar. This prevents that when a frame package is pushed forward, in which there are frame legs arranged both at a corner and at two support bars, by arching a large frame, the frames suspended at a corner into the large frame or even below it in the middle region bulging frame legs can be pushed through.

Further refinements of the invention, in particular with regard to the mounting of the two swivel arms in such a way that they have a common axis of rotation, but nevertheless can also be adjusted in opposite directions, and with respect to means which control the swivel arms and the transfer device differently, depending on whether they are small, medium or larger Arrive frame hung at a corner or very large frames are provided with a horizontal support of a frame leg on the buffer, as well as with respect to the support wall and its inclination are the subject of further claims.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the support column with the support beam on the intermediate storage device can be adjusted in height, in particular telescopically extendable relative to a hollow column. This allows the height of the support beam to be changed and makes it possible, for example in a lower arrangement, to facilitate the attachment of the frames, which can then be handled by the removal device in the upwardly extended position.

Overall, especially when combining one or more of the features and measures described above, in particular when combining the take-over piece with corresponding sliders and swivel arms, a device is obtained with which a fast and gentle conveying of spacer frames for further processing is possible without the risk that the relatively unstable frames are inadvertently damaged or deformed. Above all, it is advantageous that frames of practically any size can be picked up from the intermediate store and passed on by the take-off device in any order, as may arise during production, since the spacer frames, provided that the exceptions are very large, are hung on a corner can be arranged in the buffer, so hang down with a diagonal, so that the adapter piece can attack in all these frames regardless of their actual leg length or dimension in the same way.

Fig.1

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Übergabevorrichtung mit einem Zwischenspeicher, an dessen horizontalem Holm Rahmen unterschiedlicher Abmessungen angehängt sind, die mittels einer Abnahmevorrichtung einzeln abnehmbar und relativ zu einer etwas schräg zur Vertikalen angeordneten Stützwand auf ein Transportband absenkbar sind,

Fig.2

eine Vorderansicht der Übergabevorrichtung mit Blick von dem Zwischenspeicher aus auf die Stützwand, wobei ein den Tragholm haltender vertikaler Träger der besseren Übersicht wegen abgebrochen dargestellt ist,

Fig.3

in vergrößertem Maßstab den Aufhängebereich für die Rahmen an dem Zwischenspeicher und eine Halterung mit einem Übernahmestück der Abnahmevorrichtung in Seitenansicht, wobei die Halterung in Ausgangsstellung und in gestrichelter Darstellung in zugestellter Position, in welcher sie einen einzelnen Rahmen abnimmt, dargestellt ist,

Fig.4

eine der Fig.3 entsprechende Darstellung, bei welcher die Halterung mit dem Übernahmestück aus der in Fig.3 gestrichelt dargestellten zugestellten Positionvertikal nach oben verstellt ist, wodurch ein einzelner vorderer Rahmen mittels des Übernahmestückes oder -stiftes angehoben wird, was gestrichelt angedeutet ist, der mittels eines zusätzlichen Schieber in dieser angehobenen Position von den übrigen Rahmen wegbewegt ist, wobei gestrichelt außerdem die gesamte Halterung in einer wieder von dem Zwischenspeicher in horizontaler Richtung wegverstellten Position dargestellt ist,

Fig.5

eine Ansicht in Erstreckungsrichtung des Tragholmes des Rahmenschiebers, der die Abstandhalterrahmen insgesamt jeweils wieder vorschiebt, wenn ein einzelner Rahmen abgenommen ist, wobei dieser Schieber den Tragholm mittels eines Ausschnittes gabelförmig umgreift,

Fig.6

den im Bereich des freien Endes des Tragholmes angeordneten weiteren Schieber, mit welchem ein einzeln angehobener Rahmen von der Spitze oder dem Ende des Übernahmestückes aus auf dieses aufschiebbar ist, mit Sensoren, die die jeweilige Rahmenform, -aufhängung und -lage erkennen und die Abnahmevorrichtung entsprechend ansteuern, gleichzeitig mit einer Ansicht hintereinanderhängender Abstandhalterrahmen und einem Schnitt durch Halteprofile des Schiebers und mit dem Schieber sowie mit zusätzlichen Tragholmen für übergroße Rahmen, die mit einem Rahmenschenkel horizontal angeordnet an dem Zwischenspeicher aufhängbar sind, während gleichzeitig kleinere Rahmen an dem Tragholm mit geschlitztem freien Ende mit einer Ecke aufgehängt sind,

Fig.7

eine etwa der Fig.2 entsprechende Ansicht der Übergabevorrichtung, wobei ein zunächst mit der Diagonale abwärtshängender Rahmen mittels Schwenkarmen so um seine Aufhängestelle verschwenktwird, daß zwei Rahmenschenkel horizontal angeordnet sind,

Fig.8

die Ansicht gem. Fig.7, wobei der in eine horizontale Position verschwenkte Rahmen durch die Abnahmevorrichtung auf ein Transportmittel abgesenkt wird, welches am unteren Rand der Stützwand angeordnet ist,

Fig.9

eine der Fig.7 entsprechende Darstellung, wobei ein demgegenüber wesentlich kleinerer Rahmen aus der hängenden Position in eine Lage verschwenkt wird, bei welcher zwei Rahmenschenkel horizontal angeordnet sind,

Fig.10

eine der Fig.8 entsprechende Darstellung, gemäß welcher der kleine Abstandhalterrahmen nach der Verschwenkung gem. Fig.9 auf das Transportmittel abgesenkt wird,

Fig.11

eine den Figuren 7 und 9 entsprechende Ansicht, wobei ein derart großer Rahmen übergeben wird, daß er an zwei parallelen Tragholmen angehängt und auf zwei voneinander weggeschwenkte Tragarme der Abnahmevorrichtung übergeben wird, wozu die ursprünglich im rechten Winkel zueinander angeordneten Tragarme in eine gegensinnige, voneinander wegweisende horizontale Lage gebracht werden,

Fig.12

eine den Figuren 8 und 10 entsprechende Darstellung betreffend die Absenkung des großen Rahmens auf das Transportmittel,

Fig.13

eine Ansicht der Vorrichtung mit einem an einer Ecke aufgehängten Rahmen, bei welchem der eine, innenseitig angreifende Schwenkarm vor seiner Beaufschlagung des dem Übernahmestück benachbarten Rahmenschenkels mit einem daran anschließenden Rahmenschenkel kollidiert, so daß ein entsprechender Halteschuh aus der Rahmenebene wegschwenkbar ist und ein zweiter, der Schwenkachse näherliegender Anschlag sowie der an der Außenseite des anderen Rahmenschenkels angreifende Tragarm für die Verschwenkung zur Anwendung kommen, sowie

Fig.14

die Absenkung des gem. Fig.13 mit zwei Rahmenschenkeln in eine horizontale Position verschwenkten Rahmens auf das Transportmittel.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawing. It shows in a schematic representation:

Fig. 1

a side view of a transfer device according to the invention with a buffer, on the horizontal spar frames of different dimensions are attached, by means of a removal device are individually removable and can be lowered onto a conveyor belt relative to a retaining wall arranged somewhat obliquely to the vertical,

Fig. 2

3 shows a front view of the transfer device with a view from the intermediate store onto the support wall, a vertical support holding the support bar being shown broken off for the sake of clarity,

Fig. 3

on an enlarged scale the hanging area for the frame on the buffer and a holder with a take-over piece of the removal device in a side view, the holder being shown in the starting position and in dashed lines in the delivered position in which it removes a single frame,

Fig. 4

a representation corresponding to FIG. 3, in which the holder with the take-over piece is vertically adjusted from the delivered position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3, as a result of which a single front frame is raised by means of the take-over piece or pin, which is indicated by dashed lines is moved away from the other frames in this raised position by means of an additional slide, the dashed line also showing the entire holder in a position again displaced from the intermediate store in the horizontal direction,

Fig. 5

2 shows a view in the direction of extension of the support bar of the frame slide, which in each case advances the spacer frames again when a single frame is removed, this slide encompassing the support bar by means of a cutout,

Fig. 6

the further slide arranged in the area of the free end of the support beam, with which a frame which has been individually lifted can be pushed onto it from the tip or the end of the take-over piece, with sensors which recognize the respective shape, suspension and position of the frame and the removal device accordingly control, at the same time with a view of the spacer frame hanging one behind the other and a cut through holding profiles of the slide and with the slide, and with additional support bars for oversized frames, which can be suspended horizontally from the intermediate storage device with a frame leg, while at the same time smaller frames can be hung on the support bar with a slotted free end are hung with a corner,

Fig. 7

2 shows a view of the transfer device corresponding approximately to FIG. 2, wherein a frame which initially hangs down with the diagonal is pivoted about its suspension point by means of swivel arms in such a way that two frame legs are arranged horizontally,

Fig. 8

the view acc. 7, wherein the frame pivoted into a horizontal position is lowered by the removal device onto a means of transport which is arranged at the lower edge of the support wall,

Fig. 9

7 shows a representation corresponding to that of FIG. 7, a frame which, in contrast, is pivoted considerably smaller from the hanging position into a position in which two frame legs are arranged horizontally,

Fig. 10

a representation corresponding to FIG. 8, according to which the small spacer frame according to the pivoting. 9 is lowered onto the means of transport,

Fig. 11

a view corresponding to Figures 7 and 9, wherein such a large frame is handed over that it is attached to two parallel support bars and transferred to two pivoted away support arms of the removal device, for which purpose the support arms originally arranged at right angles to each other in an opposite, pointing away from each other horizontal position

Fig. 12

8 shows a representation corresponding to FIGS. 8 and 10 relating to the lowering of the large frame onto the means of transport,

Fig. 13

a view of the device with a frame suspended at a corner, in which the one, on the inside engaging pivot arm collides with the frame leg adjacent to the adapter piece with an adjoining frame leg, so that a corresponding holding shoe can be pivoted away from the frame plane and a second, the Swing axis closer stop and the support arm acting on the outside of the other frame leg for pivoting are used, as well

Fig. 14

the lowering of the gem. Fig.13 with two frame legs in a horizontal position pivoted frame on the means of transport.

A generally designated 1 transfer device, hereinafter also referred to as "device 1", is used for transferring or feeding finished spacer frames 2 for insulating glass panes, also called "frames 2", for further processing, in particular for a device not shown in the drawing for Applying sealing compound to side surfaces 3 to be covered with glass panes 3 of these spacer frames 2.

It is expedient if the spacer frames for the transfer to this further work station with two frame legs are arranged approximately horizontally and with the other two frame legs 4 approximately vertically, as can be seen in FIG. 1 in connection with FIG. 15 for rectangular spacer frames 2 is.

The device 1 has a suspension device, to be described in more detail, for a plurality of spacer frames 2, which in this position are arranged close to one another and touching at least in the suspension area, the planes spanned by the spacer frames 2 being arranged parallel to one another and generally vertically. This suspension device is provided on an adjustable or movable intermediate storage 5, which belongs to the device 1, but can also be removed from the position shown in FIG. 1 in order to accommodate a new package of spacer frames 2.

The transfer device 1 also includes a removal device, generally designated 6, for removing individual spacer frames 2 from the intermediate store 5 or from its suspension device.

When looking at, for example, Figures 1 and 2 as well as other figures, it is clear that the intermediate storage 5 as a suspension device has a horizontal support bar 7 held on one side with an approximately circular cross section and with a free end 8, which support bar 7 from each corner of the attached Spacer frame 2 is overlapped, that is practically overlapped in the corner area by two frame legs starting from such a corner. The spacer frames 2 hang according to Fig.2, 6, 7, 9 and 13 with a diagonal down. In this intermediate storage position, the frame legs 4 are not in a vertical position and the frame legs located between them are not in one horizontal positioning, as is aimed for further transport to a device for applying sealant.

The spacer frames 2 can be displaced in a manner to be described, transversely to the plane spanned by you and in the longitudinal direction of the support beam 7 towards its free end 8. The removal device 6 already mentioned has a take-over piece 9, which can be fed into the suspension area of the spacer frame 2a closest to the free end 8 of the support beam 7 in overlap with the support beam 7. The spacer frame 2a is drawn in FIGS. 1 and 4 as the foremost spacer frame in the feed direction with a broken line.

In this position, in which the take-over piece 9 is in overlap with the support bar 7, that is to say also engages in the interior of the spacer frame 2 a in the corner region thereof, the take-over piece 9 can be raised and together with the spacer frame 2 a, which is thereby carried along and separated, by the support bar 7 movable away.

One can see above all in FIG. 3 with solid lines a holder 11 of the take-off device 6 in the starting position and with broken lines in the position in which its take-over piece 9 engages in the support bar 7, that is to say overlaps with it, and thereby also to one piece engages far into the interior of the foremost spacer frame 2a. 4 shows the lifting movement of the holder 11 with solid lines, with broken lines first showing the first position of the front spacer frame 2a which is thereby lifted upwards, and which is then to be described with a slide 10 to be described from the region of the carrying beam 7 is moved further to the transfer piece 9, which shifted position in Figure 4 with solid lines is shown. At the same time, it is made clear in FIG. 4 that the holder 11, which functions as a separating device, is then moved away from the support bar 7 approximately in its direction of extension, which position is shown in FIG. 4 with broken lines. The spacer frame 2a thereby receives a correspondingly large distance from the intermediate store 5 and is then in a position in which it can be positioned further in a manner to be described in order to then be able to be transported for further processing.

The take-over piece 9 is arranged on the holder 11, which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 as an essential part of the removal device 6 in the aforementioned different positions and with different lines, and which is adjustably mounted in an approximately horizontally oriented sliding guide 12. This horizontal guide 12 is in turn provided, for example according to FIG. 1, on a carriage 13 or the like, which has a guide for an upward and downward adjustment on one or two vertical or slightly inclined supports 14. As a result, the aforementioned movements of the separating device or holder 11 and the take-over piece 9 can be carried out easily and in a simple manner.

In the exemplary embodiment, the take-over piece 9 is a pin which has a smaller cross section than the support bar 7. The support beam 7 has at its free end 8 a vertical slot 15 which is open at the end and which can be seen in cross section, for example, in FIG. The width of this slot 15 is equal to or slightly larger than the horizontal cross-sectional dimension of the take-over piece designed as a pin, which pin in FIG. 7 - shown in broken lines - is located just below this slot 15, but can engage in the slot from below then take the spacer frame 2 hanging in the slot area upwards with a further upward movement. So the pen is in the infeed movement of him supporting bracket 11 insertable into this slot 15 and adjustable upwards beyond the support beam 7, as illustrated in FIG. Then, as already explained above, it can then be withdrawn with the spacer frame 2 thus received, that is to say it can be transported further after the separation.

This arrangement could also be reversed, that is, the support spar 7 could be encompassed on the outside in this area of its end 8 by a fork-shaped take-over piece 9 in order to remove a frame 2 in the same way from the support spar 7, but with the spacer frame 2 at the corner maintains hanging position with approximately vertical diagonal.

A frame slider 16 is provided for pushing the spacer frame 2 hanging on the support beam 7 after the removal of the frontmost spacer frame 2a, which can be seen primarily in FIG. 5 in view, but in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 but also in a side view . This frame slide 16 engages in the region of the support beam 7 on the rearmost spacer frame 2 in the feed direction and can thus advance the entire package of spacer frame 2 at the same time in order to first bring a frontmost spacer frame 2a into the slotted end region 8 of the support beam 7 and after removal of one foremost spacer frame 2a push the remaining spacer frames 2 each again. It can be seen in Figure 5 that the frame slide 16 has a recess 17 with which it overlaps and partially encompasses the support bar 7. Relatively large sections of the frame legs of the respective spacer frame 2 and the suspended corner region are thus acted upon by this frame slide 16.

A sliding guide 18 and a drive, in particular a piston drive, for the frame slide 16 are provided above the support beam 7, which sliding guide 18 is approximately horizontal and is arranged parallel to the support beam 7 when it, together with the intermediate storage 5, assumes the position of use according to FIG. 1. At the free end 8 of the support beam 7, a stop 19, which can be seen above all in FIGS. 3 and 4, is provided for the foremost spacer frame 2a in the feed direction, with the aid of which this foremost spacer frame 2a is initially positioned such that it does not slide off the support beam 7 can, but is still in its slotted end area, in which the adapter 9 engages when singling. This stop 19 thus limits the advancing movement of the spacer frames 2 hanging parallel to one another and preferably touching and can be moved away from its stop position and out of the area of the frames 2 when the front spacer frame 2a is separated and removed, in the exemplary embodiment it can be pivoted away.

According to FIG. 6, this stop 19, which is arranged in the region of the free end 8 of the support beam 7, is likewise provided in the region of the support beam 7 with a recess 20, like the frame slider 16, so that it can overlap the support beam 7 approximately in a fork-like manner and opposite the spacer frame 2a form a relatively large stop surface. This stop 19 is mounted above the support beam 7 and can be pivoted about an axis 21 arranged approximately at right angles to the support beam 7, in particular can be pivoted up and thereby moved away from the area of the spacer frame 2. In Figure 3 you can clearly see this stop 19 in the position in which the spacer frame 2 can no longer be moved because they rest on this stop 19. Due to the recess 20, however, the correspondingly long take-over piece 9 can still be delivered. The broken-up position of the stop 19 is shown at the same time in broken or dashed lines in FIG. 3, which position can then again be recognized by the solid lines in FIG. If the isolated and raised spacer frame 2a is moved away, the stop 19 can again be pivoted back into the use position, that is, the stop position according to FIG. 3, for which purpose a working cylinder 19a acts on it.

The already mentioned second slide 10 is provided near the free end 8 of the support spar 7, which can also be adjusted in the horizontal direction by means of a piston drive 21 and can further shift an isolated and raised spacer frame 2a from the tip onto the transfer piece 9, as shown in FIG .4 is shown. This slider 10 is thus also displaceable in the feed direction and is located above the hanging frame in the area and in the height to which the area of the front individual spacer frame 2a serving for suspension can be raised by the removal device 6. This additional slide 10 has a control by which it can be actuated after the front stop 19 has been pivoted away.

In the exemplary embodiment, the frame slide 16 and the stop 19 are mounted on supports 22 connected to the removal device 6, two parallel supports 22 of this type being provided according to FIG. 6, but such a support could possibly also be sufficient. In the region of their free ends, that is to say at a distance from the holder 11 and the take-over piece 9, these supports 22 have an alignment clamp 23 for aligning the intermediate store 5 and its support bar 7. As a result, the support beam 7 is aligned with the removal device and, in particular, with the take-over piece 9, so that these two essential parts for the separation of the spacer frames 7 are in the correct position with respect to one another and are also fixed. When the aligning clamp 23 closes, any inaccuracies in the mutual positioning are eliminated on the one hand, and on the other hand the intermediate store 5 is fixed in the correct position with the support bar 7. The alignment clamp 23 is located in the exemplary embodiment near or at the Fastening point for the support beam 7 on the intermediate store 5. From there, the support beam 7 protrudes in the use position with its free end 8 directed towards the removal device 6.

The entire take-off device 6 has, in addition to the alignment clamp 23, a centering or instruction 24 for the support frame or the chassis 25 of the intermediate store 5, as a result of which it is pre-centered and pre-positioned such that it is also inserted into the alignment clamp 23 when it is shifted into the transfer position. This instruction 24 can be seen when looking at FIGS. 1 and 2 at the same time in the form of two spaced-apart profiles which accommodate the chassis 25 in a kind of sliding seat between them and possibly also have an insertion funnel. If the intermediate storage 5 is moved towards the take-off device 6, the largely correct position can already be achieved by moving the chassis 25 into this instruction 24. The precise adjustment is then effected by the alignment clamp 23.

The holder 11 of the take-off device 6, which has the take-over piece 9, is adjustable in the exemplary embodiment by means of its slide 13 which can be adjusted up and down relative to a support wall 26 and by means of its sliding guide on the support or profile 14 relative to the surface of this support wall 26 to the intermediate store 5 from time to time the setting down of a frame 2 is adjustable behind this support wall 26, which has corresponding interruptions 26a according to FIGS. 2 and 8 to 15. Already in FIG. 1, but above all also in FIGS. 7 ff., It is shown that the holder 11 of the removal device 6 can be lowered with a spacer frame 2 up to a means of transport, in the exemplary embodiment a conveyor belt 27, and the holder 11 in this lowered position. releasing the frame 2 - is retractable behind the support wall 26. Thus, the frame 2 is then placed on the conveyor belt 27 located at the lower edge of the support wall 26, after which this conveyor belt 27 can be set in motion in order to move the spacer frame 2 in the direction of the arrow Pf and thereby convey it to a transfer point or work station located to the side of the support wall 26.

Particularly in FIGS. 7 to 14, it can be seen - which has already been mentioned above - that the spacer frames are to be placed on the conveyor belt 27 with one of their frame legs in a horizontal position. Since they are initially hung at a corner in order to be able to hang and remove spacer frames of different dimensions in the same way from the intermediate store 5 and its support bar 7, the device 1 and the removal device 6 provide that the holder 11 at least one parallel to that of the spacer frame 2 spanned plane has pivotable swivel arm 28 which is arranged on the side of the take-over piece 9 and on which the frame leg serving to attach the frame acts and which can be pivoted together with the detected spacer frame 2 to such an extent that a frame leg is approximately horizontal when lowered onto the conveying means is arranged. This pivoting with the aid of such a swivel arm 28 is shown, for example, in FIG. 8 or 10.

The swivel arm 28 can be arranged on the side of the take-over piece 9 and can engage on the outside of the spacer frame 2 in the sense that the frame leg gripped by the swivel arm 28 is acted upon by a compressive force when it is swiveled from the outside. This can also be prevented at the same time that this pivoting leads to a displacement of the spacer frame relative to the take-over piece 9. The pivot axis of the swivel arm 28 is expediently arranged in alignment or continuation of the take-over piece 9, as is indicated in the exemplary embodiments.

In the exemplary embodiment, a swivel arm 29 is also laterally of the take-over piece 9 arranged transversely to its direction of extension, which engages in the inside of the frame 2 and acts on the inside of the frame piece adjacent to the take-over piece 9 when pivoted and pivots up into the horizontal position. This can be an alternative to the above-described pivot arm 28, which is pivoted downward from an approximately horizontal to a vertical position in order to align the frame in the desired position.

In the exemplary embodiment, however, two swivel arms 28 and 29 are provided according to FIG. 2, which are at right angles to one another in the starting position and are pivotably supported synchronously with one another, one swivel arm 28 from its almost horizontal position on the outside of one frame leg and the other swivel arm 29 from its approximately vertical starting position on the inside of the other frame leg of a spacer frame 2, which is adjacent to the take-over piece 9, acts on the conveyor belt 27 during pivoting and during lowering. The deviation from the exactly horizontal or vertical position serves to take into account the holding shoe 30 arranged at the end of the approximately horizontal swivel arm 28 when an oversized frame is arranged horizontally from the outset with a frame leg and onto the take-over piece 9 and in the area of the Swivel arms 28 and 29 should be moved, which will be described below.

There are thus provided on the swivel arms 28 and 29, which are pivotable outside the frame plane, with shoes 30 tapering in the pressure direction and not shown in the drawing, at which the frame legs can be centered and better fixed by the attack of these shoes 30. The holding shoes 30 protruding into the frame plane can be pivoted away from the frame when the frame 2 is set down, in order not to hinder the retraction of the holder 11 with the adapter piece 9.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example in which a relatively large spacer frame 2 is gripped by the two pivot arms 28 and 29 in the manner described and pivoted in such a way that two frame legs are arranged vertically and two other frame legs are arranged horizontally. After this pivoting movement, which is indicated in FIG. 7, it is lowered onto the conveyor belt 27 according to FIG. 8 and, after the holder 11 has been withdrawn, it is conveyed laterally with the transfer piece 9 and the pivoting arms 28 and 29 and their holding shoes 30.

On the swivel arm (s), additional stops 31, in particular fold-out and fold-out again from the plane of the frame 2, can be arranged near the pivot bearing thereof, which serve to capture small frames 2 whose dimensions are too small to be removed from the holding shoes 30 of the swivel arms 28 and 29 to be recorded. This situation is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in which a very small spacer frame 2 is now removed from the package of spacer frames held by the intermediate store 5. It can clearly be seen that the swivel arms 28 and 29 are considerably longer than the frame legs of this spacer frame 2. So that the aforementioned pivoting can still take place with the aid of the pivot arms 28 and 29 according to FIG. 10, the additional stops 31 mentioned can become effective both on the outside and on the inside of the frame in the same principle as the holding shoes 30 do for a larger frame.

Thus, the entire device 1 is advantageously and expediently suitable for spacer frames 2 of different dimensions, that is to say the user can also use almost any sequence of these spacer frames 2 both in their manufacture and in the case of orders and orders involving spacer frames of different dimensions allow for further processing. The device 1 can all these spacer frames arriving in any order Separate the most varied of dimensions in the manner described and place them on the conveyor belt 27. The only limit for the dimensions of the frame is the height of the support beam 7 above the ground or above the conveyor belt 27, which is larger than the largest diagonal of the attached spacer frame.

The device 1 according to the embodiment now provides an embodiment in which those spacer frames 2 can also be temporarily stored and transferred, the diagonal of which is longer than this height, without the support bar 7 and the device 6 therefore having to be given a greater height.

For this purpose, according to FIGS. 2, 11 and 12, and especially according to FIG. 6, it is provided that two further support bars 32 are provided for oversized frames 2b parallel to the support bar 7 of the intermediate store 5, the diagonal of which is larger than that between the support bar 7 and Funding 27 is free height. The pivot arms 28 or 29 run with their holding shoes 30, as already mentioned, in the starting position, so obliquely downwards relative to a horizontal position that the holding frame 2b hanging horizontally from the outset on these additional support bars 32 can be pushed over these holding shoes 30 without them that these would have to be drawn in or swung away.

11 also shows that when a frame 2b hanging horizontally in the starting position is taken over, both swivel arms 28 and 29 are arranged away from each other in a horizontal or approximately horizontal position and both engage from the inside on the same upper horizontal frame leg, in order to then engage this Lower the frame in the already aligned position on the conveyor 27.

It is shown in particular in FIG. 6 that hold-down device 33 in the area between the additional support bars 32 and the support bar 7 are provided, which prevent a bulging of the frame leg located on the support spars in the area of the central support spar 7 or limit it to a dimension which is smaller than the overhang of frame legs suspended from a corner relative to this support spar 7 upwards. Very large spacer frames 2b made of relatively thin or unstable profiles tend to undergo elastic deformation, which, if suspended with a certain protrusion, would also bend the superimposed frame leg compared to the additional support bars 32 due to the weight attached to them. It could stand out from the central support beam 7 so far that when a package of spacer frames is pushed forward, the spacer frames suspended at one corner could be pushed under the oversized frame. This is prevented by the hold-down device 33 mentioned.

The two swivel arms 28 and 29 have a common axis of rotation in order to pivot synchronously to one another a frame they have gripped from its position hanging over the diagonal. In the exemplary embodiment, they can be pivoted in opposite directions to one another in a horizontal position by means of a hollow shaft, so that, in addition to allowing them to pivot in the same direction, they also allow pivoting in opposite directions in order to be able to attack an oversized, from the outset horizontal frame on the upper frame leg, which is captured and isolated by the transfer piece 9 .

So that the swivel arms 28 and 29 are controlled in each case as is necessary for the pivoting and lowering of a spacer frame 2 to be taken over by them, the holder 11 of the removal device 6 according to FIG. 6 is directed towards the intermediate store 5 and the spacer frames attached to it Sensors or light barriers 39 are provided which recognize the suspension of a frame 2 on the central support beam 7 or the two parallel additional support beams 32 and actuate the swivel arms 28 and 29 in such a way that they move into the respective Takeover position can be pivoted. In addition, these light barriers and sensors 39 can also detect whether the additional stops 31 are required for a smaller frame 2 or not.

The support wall 26 and the one or more guide supports 14 are arranged on a common frame 34, which also has the instruction 24 for the intermediate store 5. The drive 35, in particular for the height adjustment of the holder 11 of the removal device 6, is mounted on this frame 34, but indirectly in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 in that this drive 35 is located above the pivot bearing 36 relative to the frame 34.

Also in the area of the take-over piece 9 or take-off pin are provided parallel to this hold-down device for a large frame 2b held on two parallel support bars 32 and on the take-over device 6 on the horizontal arms 28 and 29, that is to say both on the intermediate store or in the area thereof in the area of takeover and handover, too, the bulging of the upper frame leg, which carries the weight of the suspended oversized frame, is prevented.

For the sake of completeness, it should also be mentioned that the intermediate store 5 has a frame with a column 37, which column 37 carries the support beam 7 and that this frame has wheels 38 or the chassis already mentioned. The result is an intermediate store which can be moved like a carriage, the spacer frames 2 then being able to hang on it when it is inserted into the instruction 24 of the removal device 6.

This support column 37 is height-adjustable together with the support beam 7, in particular telescopically extendable relative to a hollow column, so that the center of gravity can be set lower when transporting smaller spacer frames. In use position However, the support column 37 must always be arranged at a constant height in order to align it with the transfer piece 9.

Overall, there is a device 1 with which differently dimensioned frames can be taken over and removed from a buffer 5 in wide areas of these dimensions in the same way, all hung in the same way at a corner, so that the handling is the same for all these frames of different dimensions. The device 1 can also be used for extreme frame sizes. Thus, in the manufacture of the spacer frames 2 and their forwarding for further processing, a specific sequence of the frames need not be observed, that is, the frames do not have to be sorted according to size, but can be processed further as they arise.

The entire method of operation is largely derived from the above description. Nevertheless, it will be briefly explained again for different frame sizes with reference to FIGS. 8 to 15. It should be noted that the transfer device 1 can also be used simply for stacking the hanging frames.

7 and 8, medium-sized spacer frames, the frame legs of which are each longer than the swivel arms 28 and 29, are initially taken hanging from a corner with the aid of the take-over piece 9 and the slide 10 and are leaned against the supporting wall. The actual stacking process or further transport begins when the holding device 11 is in the frame rotating position. The swivel arms 28 and 29 are now moved towards the frame and thereby the hanging frame is detected synchronously on two frame legs. Through the swivel arms, it is rotated around the take-over piece 9 into a horizontal position. After this rotation, the bracket 11 can finally be retracted so far that the spacer frame 2 is leaning against the support wall. The frame is now lowered onto the conveyor belt 27 by the vertical movement and released in this position by the retraction movement of the holding device 11. Thereafter, the holding device 11 and the rotating or swiveling arms move back into the starting position.

A working method is indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10, in which the frame legs are shorter than the swivel arms. Here too, however, the swivel arms 28 and 29 are grasped after the corresponding positioning of the spacer frame in the region of these swivel arms with the aid of the additional stops 31 and swiveled into a horizontal position.

In order to prevent a collision of the swivel arm 28 pointing downward during lowering, the swivel arm 28 is again moved back into its horizontal position independently of the second swivel arm 29 which remains horizontal. When lowering such a small frame 2, both swivel arms 28 and 29 are arranged horizontally pointing away from one another, as can be seen above all in FIG.

Fig. 11 and 12 shows the lowering of a horizontally hanging frame from the outset. In this case too, the swivel arms are pivoted into a horizontal position in which they both engage on the inside of the horizontal frame leg. In this position, the spacer frame is lowered according to FIG. 12 and then, as in the cases described above, the take-over piece 9 and all parts engaging on the frame are withdrawn behind the support wall 26, for which purpose the openings have corresponding openings.

FIG. 13 shows an example in which one frame leg is longer than the swivel arm 28, but the other is shorter than the swivel arm 29. This is detected by corresponding sensors which bring the holding shoe 30 of the swivel arm 29 out of position, so that in this case the additional stop 31 becomes effective. Otherwise, the method of operation corresponds to that according to the example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The transfer device 1 for transferring or feeding finished spacer frames 2 for insulating glass panes for further processing or for stacking such spacer frames has an intermediate store 5 and a removal device 6 for removing individual spacer frames 2 from the intermediate store 5. So that frames of different dimensions can each be transferred and removed in the same way, the intermediate storage 5 has, as a hanging device for the spacer frames 2, a horizontal support bar 7 which is held on one side and has a free end 8 which is covered by a corner of the attached spacer frames 2, which are suspended with a downward or vertical diagonal. The spacer frames 2 can be displaced along the support bar 7 transversely to the plane spanned by them, the foremost spacer frame 2 a reaching in the area of a take-over piece 9 of a removal device 6. This take-over piece 9 can be delivered into the hanging area of the spacer frame 2 closest to the free end 8 of the support bar 7 in overlap with the support bar 7, expediently in that either the free end 8 of the support bar 7 or the take-over piece 9 is slotted and one can intervene in the other. As a result, the take-over piece 9 can also engage in the corner region or the inner region of the frame of the front spacer frame, lift it up and move it away from the other spacer frames. The engagement is dimensioned so that the next spacer frame 2 is not detected.

Claims (30)

Transfer device (1) for transferring or feeding finished spacer frames (2) for insulating glass panes for further processing, in particular for a device for applying sealing compound to side surfaces (3) to be covered with glass panes (3) of these spacer frames (2), with a suspension device for several spacer frames ( 2) having, in particular adjustable or movable, intermediate store (5) and with a removal device (6) for removing individual spacer frames (2) from the intermediate store (5), characterized in that the intermediate store (5) as a suspension device holds at least one one-sided, has horizontal support bar (7) with a free end (8), which support bar (7) is overlapped by a corner of the attached spacer frame (2), that the spacer frame (2) transversely to the plane spanned by them in the longitudinal direction of the support bar ( 7) are movable and that the removal device (6) has a take-over piece (9), which can be delivered in this position at the suspension point up to the suspension area of the spacer frame (2a) closest to the free end (8) of the support beam (7) in overlap with the support beam (7) of the foremost spacer frame can be raised engagingly in the latter and can be moved away from the carrying bar (7) together with the spacer frame (2a) thereby separated. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the take-over piece (9) is arranged on a holder (11) which is adjustably mounted in an approximately horizontally oriented sliding guide (12), and in that this horizontal guide in turn on a slide (13) or . Like. is provided, which is a guide for an up and down adjustment Has. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the take-over piece (9) is a pin which has a smaller cross-section than the support bar (7), that the support bar (7) has a vertical, open end at its free end (8) Has slot (15), the width of which is equal to or greater than the horizontal cross-sectional dimension of the pin, and that the pin can be inserted into this slot (15) during the infeed movement of the holder (11) carrying it and can be adjusted upward via the support bar (7) and is retractable with the spacer frame (2) accommodated in the process. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the free end (8) itself, which is preferably reduced in cross section with respect to the supporting beam (7) itself, is overlapped by a take-over piece (9), which fork by means of, at its free end the holder (11) can be delivered, the end of the support bar (7) can be adjusted in height in its slot and can be raised and retracted with a spacer frame (2) removed from the free end (8) of the support bar (7). Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a frame slider (16) is provided in the area for pushing the spacer frames (2) hanging on the support bar (7) after removal of the frontmost spacer frame (2a) in the feed direction of the support bar (7) engages on the rearmost spacer frame (2) in the feed direction and in particular at least partially overlaps the support bar (7) with a recess (17). Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized characterized in that a sliding guide (18) and a drive, in particular a piston drive, for the frame slide (16) is provided above the supporting beam (7), which sliding guide (18) is arranged approximately horizontally and parallel to the supporting beam (7). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a stop (19) is provided on the free end (8) of the support bar (7) for the frontmost spacer frame (2a), which stops the feed movement of the parallel and The spacer frame (2), which preferably touches one another, and that this stop can be moved, in particular pivoted away, from its stop position and from the area of the frame (2) when the front spacer frame (2a) is separated and removed. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the stop (19) arranged in the region of the free end (8) of the support bar (7) engages approximately over the support bar (7), is mounted above the support bar (7) and by one above the Tragholmes (7) can be pivoted up approximately at right angles to this arranged axis (21). Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a second slide (10) is provided near the free end (8) of the support bar (7) and is displaceable in the feed direction, which is above the hanging frame in the area and in the Height at which the area of the front spacer frame (2a) used for suspension can be lifted by the removal device (6), and that this additional slide (10) has a control by which it can swing after the front stop (19) has been swung away can be actuated. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the frame slide (10) for the advance of the spacer frames (2) as a whole and the stop (19) are mounted on at least one carrier (22) connected to the removal device (6) and that this carrier has an alignment clamp (23) for aligning the intermediate store (5) and in particular its support bar (7) on the removal device and the take-over piece (9), which alignment clamp (23) in particular close to or at the fastening point for the support bar (7) attacks on the buffer (5). Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the removal device (6) in addition to the alignment clamp (23) has a centering or instruction (24) for the support frame or the chassis (25) of the intermediate store (5), whereby this can be precentered so that it is inserted into the alignment clamp (23) when it is shifted into the transfer position. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the holder (11) of the take-off device (6) which has the take-over piece (9) can be adjusted relative to a support wall (26) by means of its slide (13) which can be adjusted up and down and by means of its sliding guide relative to the surface of this support wall (26) to the intermediate store (5) and after setting down a frame (2) behind the support wall (26) is adjustable. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the holder (11) of the removal device (6) can be lowered with a spacer frame (2) up to a means of transport, in particular a conveyor belt (27), and in that the holder (11) therein lowered position - releasing the frame (2) - retractable behind the support wall (26) is. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the holder (11) of the removal device (6) has at least one pivot arm (28) which can be pivoted parallel to the plane spanned by the spacer frame (2) and which is to the side of the transfer piece (9) is arranged and on which the frame frame adjacent for the hanging corner acts and can be pivoted together with the detected spacer frame (2) to such an extent that a frame frame is arranged approximately horizontally when lowered onto the transport means. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the swivel arm (28) is arranged on the side of the take-over piece (9) and engages on the outside of the spacer frame (2) in the sense that the frame leg gripped by the swivel arm (28) a pressure force is exerted when pivoting from the outside. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the pivot axis of the pivot arm (28) is arranged in alignment or continuation of the take-over piece (9). Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a swivel arm (29) is arranged to the side of the take-over piece (9) transversely to its direction of extension, which engages in the inside of the frame (2) and a frame leg adjacent to the take-over piece (9) when pivoted acted on the inside and pivoted into the horizontal position. Device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized characterized in that two swivel arms (28, 29) are provided which are pivoted synchronously with one another or, if appropriate, also in opposite directions to one another and that one swivel arm (28) on the outside of one frame leg and the other swivel arm (29) on the inside on the other Takeover piece (9) adjacent frame legs of a spacer frame (2) attacks a conveyor during pivoting and during lowering. Device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that holding shoes (30) are provided on the swivel arms (28, 29) with openings tapering in the pressure direction, on which the frame legs can be centered by the action of these holding shoes (30) and in that the holding shoes (30) projecting into the frame plane can be pivoted away from the frame when the frame (2) is set down. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that additional stops (31) or the like, in particular foldable, are arranged on the pivot arm or arms near the pivot bearing and are again folded away from the plane of the frame (2) and are used for gripping small frames ( 2) serve, the dimension of which is too small to be gripped by the holding shoes (30) of the swivel arms (28, 29). Device according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that two further support bars (32) for large frames (26) are provided parallel to the support bar (7) of the intermediate store (5), the diagonal of which is larger than that between the support bar (7) and conveying means (27) is free height, and that the swivel arms (28, 29) with their holding shoes (30) in the starting position run so far downwards relative to a horizontal position that the holding frame, which is suspended horizontally with a frame leg (2b) can be pushed over the holding shoe (30). Device according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that when a frame (2b) hanging horizontally in the starting position is taken over, both swivel arms (28, 29) are arranged in a horizontal position facing away from one another. Device according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that hold-down devices (33) are provided in the area between the additional support bars (32) and the support bar (7), which hold down the frame leg located on the support bars in the area of the central support bar ( 7) prevent or limit it to a dimension which is smaller than the overhang of frame legs suspended from a corner with respect to this support beam (7). Device according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the two pivot arms (28, 29) have a common axis of rotation and can be pivoted in opposite directions to one another in a respective horizontal position by means of a hollow shaft. Device according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that on the holder (11) of the take-off device (6) sensors or light barriers are provided which are directed towards the intermediate store (5) and which hang a frame (2) on the central support beam ( 7) or on two parallel support bars (32) and control the swivel arms (28, 29) in such a way that they are pivoted into the respective take-over position. Device according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the support wall (26) is pivotable about a horizontal axis arranged at its lower edge and its inclination is therefore adjustable. Device according to one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the removal device (6) and the support wall (26) are arranged on a common frame (34) and the drive (35) for the height adjustment of the holder (11) of the removal device ( 6) is mounted on this frame (34). Device according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterized in that in the area of the take-over piece (9) or take-off pin parallel to this hold-down device (33) for a large, on two parallel support bars (32) and on the take-over device (6) on the horizontal Arms (28,29) held frame (2b) are provided. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 28, characterized in that the intermediate store (5) has a frame with a support column (37) which carries the support bar (7), and that the frame has wheels (38) or a chassis. Device according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that the support column (37) with the support bar (7) is height-adjustable, in particular telescopically extendable relative to a hollow column.

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