EP0857849B1 - Method and device for the assembly and sealing of insulating glazing panels - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves conveying one inclined-to-the-horizontal pane up to a first position on a first track. Another pane is similarly conveyed inclined up to a second position on the first track. Both panes are moved onto a second track parallel to the first, and a third pane is conveyed on the first track into the first position. A fourth panel is conveyed on the first track into the second position, and either the first and second, or the third and fourth, panes support a spacer holder frame on their non-supported face. Pairs of panes are positioned parallel spaced from each other and transferred into a press. The two pairs are simultaneously assembled into two insulating blanks by parallel displacement of the first and second, or third and fourth, panes. The blanks are pressed simultaneously.

Description

In vertical insulating glass production lines, insulating glass panes and glass panels, from which insulating glass panes are assembled, on a horizontal conveyor standing and supported a few degrees inclined against the vertical processed. Coming from a washing machine on the horizontal conveyor Glass panels are successively checked for cleanliness. For the Production of insulating glass panes, which consist of two glass sheets, is on every second glass sheet a frame-shaped spacer is glued or by extrusion a thermoplastic strand applied. The horizontal conveyor conveys the glass sheets successively into an assembly and pressing device, which usually consists of two parallel pressing plates, one of which is fixed and the other is variable is. First, the first glass sheet is placed in the assembly and pressing device promoted, leaning against the fixed press plate; it becomes predetermined Positioned, then the movable press plate of the first Approximate glass sheet, sucks it in, takes it off the first press plate and removes them from this. The first press plate is then free to use the second the glass panel provided with the spacer, which is now in the assembly and the pressing device is conveyed until it covers the first glass sheet opposite. Then the movable platen becomes the fixed one Press plate approximated to join and close the two press plates compress.

In order to achieve that with insulating glass panes, the surfaces, which with the Support devices of the horizontal conveyor have always come into contact outside is in the production line following the station in which a spacer is glued to one of the glass panels, after one in the DE-44 37 998 A1 proposed a section of the horizontal conveyor including support device around a parallel to the glass panel, i.w. vertical axis around Can be turned 180 °. This will get it onto the relevant section of the horizontal conveyor standing glass panel on a parallel to its original path Train. On the original track, a second glass sheet can be congruent can be positioned to the first glass panel and together you can in the through the two tracks predetermined distance in an assembly and pressing device be transferred in order to be assembled and pressed therein.

Users of insulating glass production lines are demanding ever shorter cycle times. The Cycle time is the period between the completion of two successive ones Insulating glass panes. The cycle time is determined by the slowest work processes determined in an insulating glass production line, which is the assembly and pressing process (especially when the assembly and Pressing device also for filling the insulating glass pane with a heavy gas how to use argon, see e.g. DE-38 32 836 A1 and DE 40 22 185 A1) and the sealing process, in which in the edge joint delimited by the spacer and the two glass panels is a hardening one Plastic, usually a polysulfide, is filled (DE 28 16 437 C2, DE 28 46 785 C2).

From DE 92 05 069 U it is already known in an assembly and Pressing device, which has a fixed press plate and opposite has two separately movable press plates, two insulating glass panes at the same time assemble, fill with a heavy gas and compress. To four glass sheets are placed one after the other in the assembly and pressing device transferred and brought to cover in pairs, in pairs approximated, their space filled with a heavy gas and then be pressing them together to form two insulating glass blanks.

From DE 33 22 801 A it is known to simultaneously and two insulating glass blanks one behind the other in two insulating glass unit receptacles one behind the other Introduce workstation and there at the same time with two sealing heads to seal.

The present invention has for its object to provide a method and an apparatus for assembling insulating glass panes, with which the cycle time can be shortened compared to conventional vertical production lines for insulating glass panes.

This object is achieved by a method with the specified in claim 1 Features and by a device with the specified in claim 15 Features. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

According to the invention, two pairs of glass plates are first joined together and then pressed in an assembly and pressing device. In contrast to DE 92 05 069 U, however, the four glass panels required for this are not individually transferred successively into the assembly and pressing device, rather they are previously positioned in pairs in parallel and congruently with a distance from one another, and so the two pairs of glass panels are positioned simultaneously in the assembly - transferred and pressing device and at the same time first assembled and then pressed therein, if necessary also filled with a heavy gas before the final pressing, in particular according to one of DE 40 22 185 A1 and
Methods disclosed in DE 38 32 836 A1. The positioning of the glass sheets parallel and congruent to one another, hereinafter also referred to as pairs, can be carried out before being transferred to the assembly and pressing device, while in the assembly and pressing device the two previous pairs of glass sheets are joined together, possibly filled with a heavy gas and pressed , When the assembly and pressing device is then opened again and the two pressed insulating glass blank blanks have left the assembly and pressing device, the two subsequent pairs of glass panels can run into the assembly and pressing device simultaneously. The time from the start of the running-in to the start of the closing of the assembly and pressing device can be reduced to approximately 1/3 to 1/4 compared to the time required for this in the procedure disclosed in DE-92 05 069 U. become. The cycle time of the assembly and pressing device, on which the cycle time of the insulating glass production line as a whole depends, is correspondingly reduced.

There are various options for pairing the glass sheets before they enter the assembly and pressing device. Particularly preferred is the procedure specified in claim 3, in which the first two of the four glass sheets are positioned one behind the other, are pivoted through 180 ° and thereby reach a second track parallel to their first track and then with the third and fourth tracks following on the first track Glass panel to be covered. This is possible, for example, through a novel use of the turning station known from DE-44 37 998 A1, which in the method of operation described in DE-44 37 998 A1 can only cover one pair of glass panels and then transfer it to the assembly and pressing device , According to the invention, such a turning station is now used to accommodate four glass panels and to position them in pairs in register. For this purpose, in contrast to the disclosure in DE-44 37 998 A1, the turning station does not turn after the first glass sheet has been positioned, but only after positioning two glass sheets in succession on the same path, so that two glass sheets open simultaneously a second track can be pivoted, whereupon the first track is available for the running in and positioning of the third and fourth glass sheets. Pairing four glass sheets in this way takes little more time than pairing two glass sheets.

The first two conveyed one after the other on a horizontal conveyor Glass panels are stopped in predetermined positions and then together rotated by 180 °, but not about a vertical axis, but about one to them parallel axis, which is at the same angle as the supported glass panels is inclined to the vertical. As a result of the rotary movement are 180 ° the first two glass panels in their end position parallel to their starting position on a conveyor track parallel to its original conveyor track. In this Position is the support device against which the first two are Glass panels in their starting position could lean on, no longer below above the glass panels, so that additional funds are provided to the Hold glass panels on the outside or on the edge so that they do not fall off. As a means. to hold the first two glass panels on the outside, Suction conveyor belts such as are disclosed in EP-A-0 225 429 are suitable; Such suction conveyor belts can not only hold the glass panels hanging, but also continue to promote. As a means to the first two glass panels on their edge to hold, you could use grooved rollers whose axes of rotation are perpendicular are oriented to the glass panel running level and in the grooves of the glass panels with their engage upper and lower edge. However, it is particularly preferred the first two glass panels by two horizontal rows of support rollers to support which act on their later inner surface, namely along their bottom and top where the glass panels touch after assembly with the spacer or with a sealing compound, i.e. in an area in which from the contact with the support rollers Traces are harmless. These support rollers define the glass panel running level of the second conveyor track.

If the first two glass panels are rotated by 180 °, the third and fourth can Glass board (preferably they carry a spacer) conveyed into the turning station and be covered with the first two glass panels. From the The four glass panels, which are parallel to each other in pairs, can still be connected at the turning station run into the assembly and pressing device, each on their conveyor track. The first conveyor track is on the stationary one Press plate of the assembly and pressing device. To achieve one of these parallel second conveyor track are the support and funding of the in the Second conveyor track located in the assembly and pressing device. If, for example, suction conveyor belts are used as funding, so you can the movable press plate of the assembly and pressing device Equip with such suction conveyor belts, which the from the turning station take over the next first two glass panels, promote them and do so hold on at the same time. However, it is used as preferred in the turning station two support roller rows for supporting the first two glass panels on top and bottom of their inner surface, then you can see these support roller rows continue into the press nip of the assembly and press device.

At the bottom of the stationary press plate are usually driven Roles as funding. Such roles can also be done on the movable Provide press plate.

In principle, the two pairs of glass panels can be successively inserted in promote the assembly and pressing device. The shortest cycle time is reached one, however, if you put the two pairs of glass panels into the turning station at the same time promotes. While in the assembly and pressing device still the two previous insulating glass panes can be assembled, the four subsequent ones Glass panels already run into the turning station, paired and then transferred in pairs to the assembly and pressing device at the same time as soon as it is ready and open.

Compared to a conventional vertical production line, this allows shorten cycle times significantly.

The four glass panels are simultaneously in the assembly and pressing device then it has the further advantage of being there with a common Drive gets along, especially with common drive rollers on lower edge of the two press plates; in this case you can instead of one Support roller row for the bottom of the first two glass panels on the stationary Press plate attached conveyor rollers to below the movable press plate extend and provide a series of flanges on the conveyor rollers, which act as a stop and guide for the lower edge of the first two glass panels serve.

In known assembly and pressing devices, the glass panels are lifted before assembling with a lifting device by a slight height from the horizontal conveyor. Accordingly, it is also expedient to go in the device according to the invention, but here lifts all glass panels at the same time by so much that the lower edge of the glass panel over the flanges lies. In this position, the movable press plate can be connected to the first two Glass panels are pushed to suck them up. Once that has happened, it can Support roller row for the upper edge of the glass sheet moved out of the press nip upwards become. The insulating glass panes can be closed by closing the press can be assembled in a manner known per se. Is the movable press plate as in DE-40 22185 A1 with a device for bending the first glass sheet or the first two glass panels, can be and pressing device also very quickly and efficiently gas exchange in the assembled, but still partially open by bending a glass sheet Insulating glass sheet blanks are made.

To support the first two glass sheets in the turning station after turning to be able to, you can on both sides of the two conveyors of the turning station the plane containing the conveying direction and the axis of rotation, separate Provide support roller lines, their spacing to adapt to different thick glass panels can be changeable. Easier and completely sufficient it is, however, to provide common support rollers for both conveyor tracks, whose axes of rotation lie in the plane that the conveying direction and the Includes axis of rotation. The distance of these support rollers from the support device for the outer surface of the glass panels is determined by how thick they are to be processed Glass panels are maximum. On the other hand, this means that the first two Glass plates of a pair of glass plates after turning 180 ° with their upper one Edge away from the support device for its outer surface against the support rollers fall for their inner surface. However, it has been shown that this short case is completely harmless for the glass panels.

Instead of the first two glass panels using a rotating station to implement a second lane, you can also use the first and second glass panels simultaneously move parallel to yourself from the first path to the second path. This is achieved e.g. with two in parallel on a common frame horizontal conveyors attached to each other, which are in particular are driven roller rows. Above each horizontal conveyor there is a support device, e.g. a line of free-running roles, to which the glass plate standing on the relevant horizontal conveyor can lean. Such a device is operated so that the first two Enter glass panels on the track formed by the first horizontal conveyor and positioned one behind the other. Then the rack with the two Horizontal conveyors moved transversely to the conveying direction so that the through the second horizontal conveyor second path takes the place that had previously taken the first lane, and on this lane are now the The third and fourth glass panels are brought up and congruent with the first and second glass panel positioned. From this position, the two can Glass panel pairs then unconnected in the assembly and pressing device which are transferred for this purpose with appropriate funding must be equipped, which is also the case when using a turning station applies. Compared to using a turning station, this solution has the advantage to be simpler, but it has the disadvantage that the third and fourth The later inner surfaces of the insulating glass panes Have grants.

A particularly preferred development of the invention relates to the case that in a series of insulating glass panes of the same size are produced on the production line becomes. This occurs in large building projects, in which a large number of windows of the same size is provided, as well as for standardized window sizes. In this case, a further development of the invention provides for Purpose of sealing two equally large insulating glass blanks, which previously were pressed at the same time, then positioned congruently and seal at the same time. Automatically working sealing devices, which seal not only one but two insulating glass panes at the same time, are not yet known. For insulating glass panes with standardized dimensions can be an automatic sealing device, e.g. is known from DE-28 16 437 C2 and DE-28 46 785 C2, without major Effort to be converted so that they are identical for sealing two covers arranged insulating glass sheet blanks is suitable. You have to do that namely only replace the individual nozzles provided in the prior art by two nozzles arranged next to each other at a suitable distance, which are preferably located on a common carrier, synchronously on The edge of the insulating glass panes is moved along and synchronized with the sealing compound be fed, expediently from a common source a common pump. To compensate for unevenness and dimensional tolerances at the edges of the glass sheet, however, the two nozzles are preferably individual cushioned so that they are independent of the two insulating glass pane edges can nestle from each other.

If the two insulating glass panes in the sealing station are congruent are positioned and promoted, if there is no intermediate layer is present, leave scuff marks on each other. Therefore it is envisaged that the two insulating glass panes when sealing and conveying in the sealing station is kept at a constant distance from each other become. This distance should be smaller than the thickness of the insulating glass panes, e.g. only 1 mm or 2 mm. Preferably for this purpose Spacer, e.g. Cork plate, on one of the insulating glass blank glued. Such cork tiles are also useful when insulating glass panes after sealing, be placed on transport racks and together lean.

The horizontal conveyor in the sealing station is particularly suitable for Conveyors known from EP-0 549 648 B1 with V-shaped supports, especially tapes on which the two insulating glass blank blanks support only with their outer lower edges, whereas their two inner, mutually supporting glass panels support each other. The lower In this way, edge joints are optimally accessible for sealing and the risk contamination of the horizontal conveyor with sealing compound particularly low.

Figur 1

zeigt eine Anordnung aus einer Drehstation und einer Zusammenbau- und Preßvorrichtung in der Draufsicht,

Figur 2

zeigt die Drehstation aus Figur 1 in der Vorderansicht,

Figur 3

zeigt die Drehstation aus Figur 2 in einer Seitenansicht mit Blickrichtung in Förderrichtung,

Figur 4

zeigt das Detail Y aus Figur 3,

Figur 5

zeigt die Zusammenbau- und Preßvorrichtung aus Figur 1 in einer Seitenansicht mit Blickrichtung in Förderrichtung,

Figur 6

zeigt das Detail X aus Figur 5,

Figur 7

zeigt eine Anordnung aus einer Glastafeln quer versetzenden Station und einer Zusammenbau- und Preßvorrichtung in der Draufsicht,

Figur 8

zeigt die Glastafeln quer versetzende Station aus Figur 7 in einer Seitenansicht mit Blickrichtung in Förderrichtung,

Figur 9

zeigt das Detail Z aus Figur 8,

Figur 10

zeigt einen Abschnitt einer Fertigungslinie für Isolierglasscheiben in der Draufsicht, und

Figur 11

zeigt einen vertikalen Teilschnitt durch eine Versiegelungsstation, gemäß Schnittlinie XI-XI in Figur 10.

By combining an assembly and pressing device according to the invention with a sealing device according to the invention, both of which are able to process two insulating glass blanks at the same time, a maximum cycle time gain is achieved: the cycle time of an insulating glass production line can be reduced by up to 50%! Further features and advantages of the invention described in the claims result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention. The same and corresponding parts are identified in the examples with the same reference numbers.

Figure 1

shows an arrangement of a turning station and an assembly and pressing device in plan view,

Figure 2

shows the turning station of Figure 1 in front view,

Figure 3

2 shows the turning station from FIG. 2 in a side view looking in the conveying direction,

Figure 4

shows the detail Y from FIG. 3,

Figure 5

1 shows the assembly and pressing device from FIG. 1 in a side view looking in the conveying direction,

Figure 6

shows the detail X from FIG. 5,

Figure 7

shows an arrangement of a glass sheet transversely moving station and an assembly and pressing device in plan view,

Figure 8

shows the glass panels transversely displacing station from Figure 7 in a side view looking in the conveying direction,

Figure 9

shows the detail Z from FIG. 8,

Figure 10

shows a section of a production line for insulating glass panes in plan view, and

Figure 11

shows a vertical partial section through a sealing station, according to section line XI-XI in Figure 10.

FIG. 1 shows a turning station 1 and an assembly and pressing device 2. Glass panels 10, 10 ', 11, 11' are the turning station 1 by a horizontal conveyor 3 supplied, which consists essentially of a horizontal line of synchronously driven rollers 4, which is in the vicinity of the lower Edge of a support wall 5 designed as an air cushion wall, which is inclined by a few degrees, in particular 6 °, against the vertical. The Horizontal conveyor sits in different training through the turning station 1 and the assembly and pressing device 2 through into a horizontal conveyor 3 'with the same structure as the horizontal conveyor 3 for has the removal of assembled insulating glass blanks.

The turning station has on a base 6 a corresponding to the inclination of the support wall 5 few degrees against the horizontal inclined bogie 7, on which two mutually parallel conveyor tracks 8 and 9 are provided, each consisting from a horizontal line of synchronously driven rollers 4 or 4 'with the same diameter, their axes of rotation in a common Lay level that is at right angles to the support wall 5. For support the glass panels 10, 10 'and 11, 11', which are on the rollers 4, 4 ', has Rotary station instead of a fixed supporting wall supporting roller rows, one each Support roller row 12 and 13 in connection with the two rows of driven Rollers 4 and 4 ', one between each two driven rollers 4, 4' Support roller is located, which is slightly above the top of the driven Rolls 4, 4 'protrudes. One of the two conveyor tracks 8 and 9 is still a third Support roller row 14 assigned, which is essentially level with the Support roller lines 12 and 13, but is between these two, and in such a way that the support rollers of the support roller row 14 into the spaces between the driven rollers 4, 4 'engage one of the two conveyor tracks.

In alignment with the axes of rotation of the free-running support rollers in the support roller rows 12, 13 and 14 further support rollers are arranged, the three horizontal, form upper support roller rows 15, 16 and 17, which on the underside of horizontal Hollow profile strips 18 are attached by two transverse to them Arms 19 are connected to two pillars 20 of the bogie and are slidably guided. The columns 20 are perpendicular to the plane of rotation 21 of the bogie 7.

The rollers 4 in one conveyor track 8 are separate from the rollers 4 'in the other Conveyor track 9 can be driven. The two electric motors intended for this are designated 22 and 23.

The bogie 7 runs with several wheels 24 on a circular path 25 on the Top of the foot 6. The rotary drive takes place via a e.g. pneumatically adjustable Friction gear. The axis of rotation 26 of the turning station runs in the middle in Regarding the length of the turning station and is close to the plane in which the Axis of the support rollers of the middle support roller rows 14 and 17 lie.

The assembly and pressing device directly adjoining the turning station 1 2 has on a frame 27 a fixed, designed as an air cushion wall Support wall 28, which also serves as a fixed press plate; she has the same inclination as the support wall 5 and as that through the support roller rows 12 and 15 or 13 and 16 defined glass panel running levels. Parallel to the retaining wall 28 is a further support wall 29 is provided, the distance from the fixed Support wall 28 can be changed by spindle drives 30; this agile Support wall 29 is also designed as an air cushion wall and serves as a movable one Press plate, which extend at right angles to the conveying direction 31 Rails 32 supports, these rails 32 in addition to the spindle drives 30 also serve as a parallel guide for the press plate 29.

Just below the stationary press plate 28 is a horizontal line of driven ones Rollers 33 are provided, which are so wide that they are still then protrude below the edge of the movable press plate 29 when the press nip 34 is so far that the thickest insulating glass panes found in practice can be assembled. The rollers 33 are in flight the rollers 4 and 4 'of the turning station 1.

On guide rails 35 and 36, which at both ends of the stationary Press plate 28 are provided, a bar 37 is movable up and down by motor out, on which a further horizontal row of support rollers 38 is attached is. Their axes run parallel to the pressure plates 28 and 29 and their common, the movable press plate 29 adjacent tangential plane with corresponding edges of wheel flanges 39 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), which together with the support rollers 38 the running level for the first two Define glass panels 10 and 10 'in the assembly and pressing device and the first two glass panels 10, 10 'on the inside at the bottom and top support.

A lifting beam 40, the lifting cam 41, is provided below the rollers 33 carries, which engage in the space between two rollers 33 and on this standing glass panels 10, 10 'and 11, 11' can lift.

The device can work as follows:

A first glass sheet 10 is brought up on the horizontal conveyor 3 in the turning station 1 on the rollers of the conveyor track 8 and is at the bottom Edge by the support rollers 12 and at the top by the support rollers 15 supported. It will stop when it makes a first with its vertical leading edge predetermined position near the front in the conveying direction 31 of the Has reached turning station 1. The first glass sheet 10 follows on the same conveyor track 8 a second glass sheet 10 '; as soon as you move the rear edge into the turning station 1 has run in, it is stopped in a predetermined second position and the The turning station is turned through 180 °. It is then in the position shown in Figures 1 to 4 is shown. The first glass sheet 10 and the second glass sheet 10 'fall with their upper edge from the support roller row 15 against the adjacent one Support roller row 17. The drivable rollers 4 are during the rotary movement blocked so that the glass panels 10 and 10 'cannot run away. After the rotary movement is completed by 180 ° and the bogie in its new position is fixed, a third with a on the horizontal conveyor 3 Spacer 42 occupied glass sheet 11 'on the conveyor track 9 in the turning station 1 promoted, in which it runs on the driven rollers 4 'and below is supported by the support rollers 13 and above by the support rollers 16. The third Glass panel 11 'is conveyed with the conveyor track 8 at a standstill until it stands congruent next to the second glass sheet 10 '. The third glass panel 11 ' follows on the conveyor track 9 a fourth glass plate 11, which is congruent with the first glass sheet 10 is positioned. From this position, the two pairs of glass panels 10 and 11 as well as 10 'and 11' as soon as the assembly and Press device is ready and open, together at the same time in their Press nip 34 promoted. The driven rollers 4, 4 'and 33 are the same in the running direction a little so that the glass panels against the stationary press plate 28 are performed with the result that the first two Glass panels 10 and 10 'with their lower edge in the direction of the support rollers 14 and finally be guided against the flanges 39, whereas the third and fourth glass sheet 11, 11 'reliably in their through the support rollers 13 and 16th as well as the running plane defined by the front of the stationary press plate remain. The support rollers 38 in the assembly and pressing station 2 are exactly in alignment of the support rollers 17 of the turning station 1.

The two pairs of glass panels 10 and 11 and 10 'and 11' move forward synchronously moved until they are stopped in a predetermined position (see Figure 1). The Glass plate pair 10 ', 11' is then located with its leading edges at the outlet end the assembly and pressing device, whereas the glass panel pair 10, 11 with its rear edges at the inlet end of the assembly and pressing device 2 is located. Now the lifting beam 40 is raised and with them the Glass panels 10, 10 ', 11 and 11', so that their lower edge is above the Wheel flanges 39 is located. Then the movable press plate 29 to the first moved both glass sheets 10 and 10 'to suck them in, what the press plate Has 29 openings that are connected to the suction side of a blower. simultaneously the direction of flow of the air on the air cushion wall stationary press plate 28 reversed, so that there the third and fourth glass sheet 11 and 11 'are sucked. The walking beam 40 is then lowered somewhat, the movable press plate 29 moves against the stationary press plate 28 and presses the first two glass panels 10 and 10 'against those on the third and fourth Glass panel 11 and 11 'adhering spacer 42 and thus builds two Insulating glass sheet blanks together at the same time, their edge joints on the outside of the spacer can still be filled with sealing compound have to.

If the insulating glass panes are to be filled with a heavy gas, then that is it possible in the same assembly and pressing device 2. To this end are a first segment provided at the inlet end and one at the outlet end provided second segment of the movable press plate 29 behind covers 43 and 43 '(Figure 1) provided with additional suction devices and by the stationary press plate 28 bendable. This allows the first glass sheet 10 at its edge, which is at the inlet end of the assembly and pressing device 2, are bent while the second Glass panel 10 'on its edge, which at the outlet end of the assembly and Press device 2 is located, can be bent while the two glass plates 10 and 10 'remain sucked by the movable press plate 29. Turned like this the first two glass sheets 10 and 10 'are attached to the spacers 42 placed on the other two glass plates 11 and 11 ', due to the curved Glass panels 10 and 10 'between them and the respective spacer 42 a gap remains through which gas exchange can take place. Is the gas exchange completed, the bending of the glass sheets 10 and 10 'is reversed and the insulating glass sheet blanks are pressed. Because of the closer Details are referred to DE-40 22 185 A1.

After pressing the insulating glass blank, the assembly and pressing device 2 opened and the blanks are simultaneously over the Conveyed horizontally 3 '.

As soon as the two pairs of glass panels 10 and 11 as well as 10 'and 11' are completely in the Assembly and pressing device 2 have entered, the bogie 7th turned back in the turning station 1 by 180 ° and takes in the described Show the next four glass panels that are in the turntable 1 in the period until completion of the previous in the assembly and pressing device 2 Assembly process are positioned congruently (paired) and then are ready to break into the assembly and pressing device 2.

Insulating glass panes can also be produced with the devices described that are assembled from three glass panels. To do this first in the manner described, two insulating glass sheet blanks each from two glass sheets assembled. Meanwhile, a fifth and one sixth glass sheet conveyed into the turning station, positioned as before the glass sheets 10 and 10 'and then rotated together by 180 °. As soon as the two of each two glass panels formed blanks are assembled, they are made from the Assembly and pressing device 2 conveyed out on the following Horizontal conveyor 3 ', are stopped there and the first two glass panels 10 and 10 'with another spacer. Meanwhile, the fifth and sixth glass sheets on the second conveyor track 9 of the movable press plate 29 fed. Then the second spacer is used Blanks returned to the assembly and pressing device 2 and there positioned congruently with the fifth and sixth glass panels, assembled with them, if necessary combined with a heavy gas filling. Then the assembled ones Triple insulated glass blanks pressed and removed. Feeding the fifth and sixth glass sheets into the assembly and Press device 2 regardless of the return of the previously assembled Two-disc blanks work with the same drive, because the fifth one and sixth glass sheet before returning the blanks through the lifting cams 41 can be lifted off the driven rollers 33.

Instead of pairing the glass panels 10 and 11 and 10 'and 11' with a turning station 1, they can also be moved transversely to the conveying direction 31 Position the pairing station 44 in pairs in the same position. This case is in 7 to 9, the one adjoining the pairing station 44 Assembly and pressing device 2 is the same as in Figure 1.

The pairing station 44 has two on a frame 45 perpendicular to the conveying direction 31 running rails 46 and 47 on which two horizontal conveyors 48 and 49 with mutually parallel conveyor tracks 8 and 9 along the rails 46 and 47 are slidably mounted. The conveyor tracks 8 and 9 can one have the structure corresponding to the conveyor tracks in the turning station 2 (FIG. 4) with two rows of driven rollers 4 and 4 'and with two support roller rows 13 and 14; for further details, please refer to the description of the Turning station. In alignment with the axes of rotation of the free running Support rollers 13 and 14 further support rollers 16 and 17 are provided, which form two horizontal upper support roller rows, which at the bottom of horizontal hollow profile strips 18 are attached, the by transverse to them Arms 19 are connected to and on two columns 20 of the frame 45 are slidably guided. The pillars 20 are a few degrees to the rear inclined.

This device works e.g. as follows:

First, the conveyor track 8 is aligned with the horizontal conveyor 3. A first Glass panel 10 'is conveyed up on the horizontal conveyor 3, arrives in the Mating station 44 on the rollers of the conveyor track 8 and is at the bottom supported by the support rollers 14 and at the top by the support rollers 17.

The first glass sheet 10 'is conveyed to a first position in which it is vertical front edge is located at the outlet end of the pairing station 44. The The first glass sheet 10 'is followed by a second glass sheet 10 on the same conveyor track 8 and is positioned in a second position, in which your vertical rear Edge is located at the inlet end of the pairing station 44. The horizontal conveyors 48 and 49 are now moved together across the conveying direction 31, until the conveyor track 9 is in the flight of the horizontal conveyor instead of the conveyor track 8 3 is located. Now a third glass sheet 11 'and one following it fourth glass plate 11 coming from the horizontal conveyor 3 onto the horizontal conveyor 49 pass on which they stand on the driven rollers 4 and at the bottom by the support rollers 13 and at the top by the support rollers 16 are supported. The glass panels 11 'and 11, both of which are spacers 42 wear, are in the pairing station 44 congruent to the Glass panels 10 'and 10 positioned. This state is shown in Figure 7. Is the then arranged assembly and pressing device 2 free and open, then the two pairs of glass panels 10 'and 11' and 10 and 11 are driven the rollers 4 and 4 'transferred to the assembly and pressing device 2 and positioned and processed there accordingly, as with the first Example was described with the turning station.

Whether the glass panels with a turning station 1 or with a transverse one Pairing station 44 are paired, in both cases, the assembly and pressing device 2 the section of an insulating glass production line shown in FIG. 10 consequences. Figure 10 shows the assembly and pressing device 2 in the conveying direction 31 then an intermediate transport device 50 with the horizontal conveyor 3 'at the bottom of an air cushion wall trained support wall 51; followed by a station 52 in which distance tile can be glued to an insulating glass blank; followed by a mating station 53, in which two insulating glass blanks of the same size can be arranged congruently next to each other; followed by one Sealing station 54.

The intermediate transport device 50 serves to remove the two from the assembly and pressing device 2 to receive upcoming insulating glass blank 55 and if necessary to park as long as the subsequent station 52 is not yet free is.

Like station 50, station 52 also consists of a horizontal conveyor 3 ″ driven rollers at the bottom of a few degrees inclined backwards Air cushion wall 56. Here, every second insulating glass blank 55 can stop to place some spacer plates on its free outside, e.g. out Cork to stick.

Station 53, like station 50, has one with driven rollers Horizontal conveyor 3 '' 'on the lower edge of a slightly inclined air cushion wall 57, which is arranged opposite a lifting device 58, which has one or more suction devices directed against the air cushion wall 57, with which is an insulating glass sheet blank standing on the horizontal conveyor 3 '' ' 53 sucked in, lifted off the horizontal conveyor 3 '' 'and from the air cushion wall 57 can be removed.

The sealing station 54 has two horizontal conveyors 59 and 60 at the lower edge of air cushion walls 61 and 62. In this case, the horizontal conveyors 59 and 60 are not rows of driven rollers, but endless belts 63 and 64 arranged in a V-shape, which are driven by rollers 65 and 66 are excited. Such a horizontal conveyor is detailed in the
EP 0 549 648 B1, to which reference is hereby made to avoid repetitions. In a gap 67 between the two air cushion walls 61 and 62, a sealing head 68 is provided, which can be pivoted about an axis 69 running perpendicular to the air cushion wall 61. The sealing head 68 carries two identical nozzles 70 and 71, which are arranged next to one another and can be applied to the edge of the insulating glass pane blanks 55 with a spherical front side in order to seal their edge joints 72 and 73. Between the nozzles 70 and 71 and the sealing head 68 there are compression springs 74 and 75, which ensure that the nozzles 70 and 71 resiliently rest against the edge of the insulating glass blank 55. The sealing head 68 can not only be pivoted about the axis 69, but can also be moved up and down parallel to the gap 67 between the two air cushion walls 61 and 62. A feed line 76 leads into the sealing head 68, whereby the two nozzles 70 and 71 are simultaneously supplied with sealing compound.

The two nozzles 70 and 71 are located on a common carrier 77 and can be used together with this to adapt to insulating glass blank with changed distance between the two glass panels 10 and 11 or 10 ' and 11 'and / or with changed glass panel thicknesses.

The section of the production line shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 operates e.g. as follows:

Two insulating glass sheet blanks assembled in the assembly and pressing device 2 55 are out of this together on the intermediate transport device 50 promoted. The first of two insulating glass sheet blanks 55 runs unprocessed through station 52 into station 53, is in there a predetermined position, preferably so that its front edge is located at the outlet end of the support wall 53 is there by the lifting device 58 detected, lifted off the conveyor track 3 '' 'and by more than its thickness removed from the air cushion wall 57. The second, subsequent insulating glass blank 55 is stopped in station 52, with some spacer tiles 78 (see Figure 11) pasted and then conveyed further to station 53 in exactly that position at which the now now hanging on the lifting device 58 first insulating glass sheet blank was found, which is now on the horizontal conveyor 3 '' 'reset and is congruent with the one already there standing second insulating glass blank 55 is positioned, the two Blanks are kept at a distance by the spacer 78.

As soon as the sealing station 54 is ready to receive, the two become one A pair of insulated glass panel blanks 55 from station 53 transferred to the horizontal conveyor 59 and further to the horizontal conveyor 60 and with their vertical trailing edges at the infeed end of the horizontal conveyor 60 positioned. In this position, the two nozzles 70 and 71 first sealed the two rear edge joint sections by the nozzles 70 and 71 from bottom to top along the edge of the insulating glass blank be moved. Once they arrived at the back top corner of the blanks are, the sealing head 68 is pivoted by 90 °, so that the nozzles 70 and 71 point downwards, as shown in FIG. 11. Now the two Insulating glass blanks 55 from the horizontal conveyor 60 to the horizontal conveyor 59 moved back until the nozzles 71 and 70 at the front upper corner of the Blanks arrive. The movement of the blanks is then stopped, the nozzle head 68 swiveled another 90 ° and at the front edge of the Blanks moved down to fill the edge joint sections there. If the nozzles 70 and 71 arrive at the lower front corner of the blanks 55, they are swiveled again by 90 °, after which their openings widen point, and now the two blanks from the horizontal conveyor 59 transferred to the horizontal conveyor 60, the lower edge joint sections be sealed.

With more than one nozzle head, other motion sequences can also be realized are described in DE-28 16 437 C2 and DE-28 46 785 C2 are.

The sealed insulating glass panes can be sealed using a lifting device (not shown) lifted from the horizontal conveyor 60 and placed on transport racks become.

The horizontal conveyors 59 and 60 can have the same thickness as one another Insulating glass blank 55 can be set. So the two blanks only with their two outer glass panels 10 'and 11 on the conveyor belts 63, 64 stand, as shown in Figure 11, the apex 79 of the V-arrangement in the middle of the gap between the two blanks 55. For this purpose, the V arrangement in the direction of the axes 80 is that Band 63 carrying rollers 65 relocatable. For more details, the EP 0 549 648 B1.

Further essential details emerge from the attached
EP 0 549 648 B1 and
DE 44 37 998 A1.

Claims (16)

1. Method for the assembly and sealing of insulating glazing panels from glass panels in an orientation inclined by a few degrees relative to the vertical, comprising the steps of:

   horizontally conveying a first glass panel (10), supported by one of its surfaces, in that orientation into a given first position on a first track (8);

   horizontally conveying a second glass panel (10'), supported by one of its surfaces, in that orientation into a given second position on the first track (8);

   transferring the first and the second glass panels (10, 10') onto a second track (9) parallel to the first track (8);

   characterised by the steps of:

   horizontally conveying a third glass panel (11), supported by one of its surfaces, on the first track (8) in that orientation into that given first position;

   horizontally conveying a fourth glass panel (11'), supported by one of its surfaces, on the first track (8) in that orientation into that given second position, with either the first and the second or the third and the fourth glass panels (10, 10', 11, 11') carrying a frame-like spacer (42) on their non-supported surfaces;

   positioning the two pairs of glass panels (10, 11) in parallel and in congruence with a spacing between them;

   simultaneously transferring the pairs of glass panels (10, 11) to an assembly and pressing device (2);

   simultaneously joining the two pairs of glass panels (10, 11) to form two insulating glazing panel blanks (55) by parallel displacement of the first and the second glass panels (10, 10') or of the third and the fourth glass panels (11, 11'); and

   simultaneously pressing the blanks (55),

   the blanks (55) being subsequently positioned and sealed in congruent position.
2. The method as defined in Claim 1, characterised in that the two pairs of glass panels (10, 11) are simultaneously transferred to an assembly and pressing station (2).
3. The method as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that during transfer of the glass panels (10, 11) the latter are supported by those surfaces which will face each other in the insulating glazing panels hereinafter referred to as their outer surfaces;
   that when the first and the second glass panels (10, 10') have reached their first or their second position, respectively, they are turned by 180° about an axis extending in parallel to that orientation and located in front of the line of alignment of their inner surfaces (i.e. the surfaces of the glass panels that will face each other in the insulating glazing panels), whereby they are transferred to the second track (9), parallel to the first track (8), and are held by their edge or by their outer surface.
4. The method as defined in Claim 3, characterised in that the third and the fourth glass panels (11, 11') carry the spacer (42).
5. The method as defined in Claim 3 or Claim 4, characterised in that the first glass panel (10) is held by its edge during transfer, and by its outer surface during assembly to the insulating glazing panel.
6. The method as defined in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the first and the second glass panels (10, 10') are simultaneously displaced, in parallel one to the other, from the first track (8) to the second track (9).
7. The method as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the two insulating glazing panels (55) are held at a consistent spacing one from the other during sealing.
8. The method as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spacing is smaller than the thickness of the insulating glazing panels.
9. The method as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that one or more pairs of nozzles (70, 71) are used in the sealing process, which nozzles are arranged one beside the other and are moved in synchronism along the edges of the two insulating glazing panel blanks.
10. The method as defined in Claim 9, characterised by the use of two nozzles (70, 71) arranged on a common carrier (68).
11. The method as defined in Claim 10, characterised by nozzles (70, 71) that are cushioned independently one from the other.
12. Device for sealing the edge joints of two insulating glazing panels; or blanks (55) of such panels, comprising a horizontal conveyor (59, 60) on which the insulating glazing panels or blanks (55) are carried on edge, and supporting means (61, 62) arranged above the horizontal conveyor (59, 60), against which the insulating glazing panels or blanks (55) on the horizontal conveyor come to lean, in combination with two nozzles (70, 71), arranged one beside the other, which can be moved in synchronism along the edges of the two insulating glazing panels or blanks (55) and which are supplied with sealing compound in synchronism, characterised in that the insulating glazing panels or their blanks (55) are arranged in congruence.
13. The device as defined in Claim 12, characterised in that the two nozzles (70, 71) are arranged on a common carrier (77).
14. The device as defined in Claim 13, characterised in that the two nozzles (70, 71) are cushioned separately.
15. The device as defined in Claim 12, 13 or 14, characterised in that the nozzles (70, 71) are supplied from a common source.
16. The device as defined in any of claims 12 to 15, in combination with a horizontal conveyor (3''') for the insulating glazing panel blanks, arranged in front of it, and with supporting means (57), against which the insulating glazing panel blanks (55) come to lean, arranged above the horizontal conveyor (3'''), in combination with lifting means (58) for temporarily lifting an insulating glazing panel blank (55) off, and re-positioning it on, the horizontal conveyor (3"').

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