EP2007962A1

EP2007962A1 - Device for assembling insulating glass panes that are filled with a gas which is different from air

Info

Publication number: EP2007962A1
Application number: EP07724219A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Karl Lenhardt
Original assignee: Plus Inventia AG
Current assignee: Plus Inventia AG
Priority date: 2006-04-19
Filing date: 2007-04-13
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-13
Also published as: EP2007962B1; US8196635B2; WO2007121872A1; DE102006018333A1; US20100032103A1

Abstract

According to the invention, a suspended blade (55) is provided as a seal which is active between the plates (1a, 2a), said blade comprising a suspension (52) which can be displaced along the upper edge of the first of the two plates (1a), the distance of the suspension from each plane being changeable. The front side of the first plate (1a) lies in said suspension and the blade (55) is provided, at least on one side, with a reversible yielding sealing compound.

Description

Apparatus for assembling insulating glass panes filled with a gas other than air

The invention is based on a device having the features specified in the preamble of patent claim 1. Such a device is also referred to as Gasfüllpresse and is known from WO 2005/080739 Al. The known device has two mutually spaced plates which can be converted from a starting position in which they are arranged to one another in a mutually parallel position and can be approximated to each other. In the vicinity of the lower edge of the plates, a horizontal conveyor is arranged, which has a belt as a conveyor member. In the V-shaped starting position of the plates, pairs of glass sheets, one of which already carries a spacer which adheres to it, can be transported in a V-shape opposite each other simultaneously into the space between the two plates and be positioned congruently opposite one another. Once this is done, one of the plates is aligned parallel to the other plate and approximated to the point that between the one glass sheet and the opposite spacer still a small gap of e.g. 2 mm width remains. The means for holding the glass sheets on the movable plate are small openings in the plate, through which air can be sucked in from a fan arranged behind the plate, whereby the glass sheets are sucked in as well. By the pivoting movement, which performs the movable plate to get into the parallel position, the adhering to her glass panels are lifted from the belt of the horizontal conveyor. Through the gap formed thereby, a gas other than air, in particular a heavy gas, can be introduced into the intermediate space between the two glass sheets.

So that the heavy gas does not fill the entire space between the plates, but possibly only the space occupied by the glass plate pairs, several seals are provided, which extend from the upper run of the belt to the upper edge of the plates. One of these seals is provided at the end of the plates, in particular in the form of a flap which is pivotally mounted on the edge of one plate and pivotable against the edge of the other plate. The other seals are designed as Schott, which is movable out of one of the plates out against the opposite plate and thereby isolates a portion of the space between the plates. In each case, the bulkhead is actuated, which limits the smallest possible space with regard to the glass panel pairs arranged between the panels. Since the bulkheads are arranged at fixed positions, the limitation of the space filled with heavy gas is not optimal. Therefore, it comes to considerable heavy gas losses. By installing additional bulkhead, the gas loss could be reduced, but that would be structurally complex.

The present invention has for its object to show a way, as in a device of the type mentioned in the gas consumption can be reduced.

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

According to the gas filling press is no longer sealed off by individual bulkheads, which are located at predetermined positions. Instead, a seal is provided between the plates of the gas filling press, which is formed as a hanging sword, which is provided on at least one side with a reversibly yielding sealant, which extends down to the belt of the horizontal conveyor and a movable along the upper edge of a first of the two plates Has suspension, whose distance is variable from the plane in which lies the front of the first plate, and facing the second plate. This has significant advantages:

• The sword can be positioned just behind the last pair of glass sheets, so that the length of the space between the sword and the stationary seal at the end of the gas filling plates can be minimized not only in discrete steps, but steadily. • The sword can already be positioned or positioned in its optimum position while the glass sheet pairs are still being fed into and positioned in the gas filling press. • This enables short cycle times of the gas filling press.

• Due to the fact that the suspension for the sword can be changed in its distance from the front of the first plate, it can be positioned longitudinally at a distance from both plates. Due to the fact that the distance of the suspension of the sword from the first plate is variable, the blade of the movable plate can already be applied in advance to the fixed first plate. This protects the sword, the sealant applied to it and the surfaces of the plates.

• Due to the fact that the distance of the suspension from the fixed first plate can be changed, the gasket can be positioned in the V-shaped starting position of the plates in such a way that also glass panel arrangements for very thick insulating glass panes and for multiple insulating glass panes pass without damage to the blade. can be promoted, especially because the sword a- can be positioned symmetrically between the plates. • By covering the blade with a reversibly compressible sealant, the seal can automatically adjust to the thickness of the insulating glass panes to be produced.

A useful seal can be achieved with the sword already if it is coated on one side only with a sealant. The other side of the sword can be smooth and flat and thereby create a flat against one plate and receives by pressure of the other plate on the sealant pressure, which provides a useful seal. Preferably, however, the sword is provided on both sides with a sealant, which preferably consists of a reversibly compressible foam.

The sealant expediently extends over the full length of the sword, preferably still a little way beyond the lower end of the sword to achieve a good seal with respect to the surface of the belt of the horizontal conveyor by means of the compressibility of the sealant.

As a material for the sword is particularly suitable for a steel sheet, especially such - A -

with poor spring properties, to keep unwanted bends of the sword low. The sword can be coated on both sides the same thickness with the sealant. Preferably it is thicker coated on one side than on the other side, preferably so that the sword on the side with which it rests by displacing its suspension against a plate of the gas filling press - this plate is preferably the fixed plate the gas filling press - a thinner layer of the sealant is provided than on the other side of the sword. As a result, the sword assumes a particularly well-defined position relative to the plate closest to it, whereas the other plate, which is approximated to close the gas-filling press of the first-mentioned plate, is compressed to the degree predetermined by the thickness of the insulating glass pane to be produced.

For the construction of the device, it is best if the sword is mounted with its suspension to a fixed plate. This embodiment is therefore preferred.

The sword can have a constant width from bottom to top. Preferably, the sword is wider from bottom to top, in particular wedge-shaped, with a wedge angle which coincides with the angle which the two plates of the gas filling press occupy in their V-shaped starting position. This has the advantage that the sword becomes stiffer from bottom to top. As a result, deflections of the sword during movements that take place in order to position the sword in the conveying direction, be kept small. If the sword is moved in the conveying direction, it is preferably first brought into an orientation transverse to the conveying direction for this purpose. With this orientation, a pen in a plane transverse to the direction of conveyance can be virtually excluded, whereas a pendulum in the conveying direction can be kept within narrow limits by the sword becoming wider from the bottom to the top. Since the two plates of the gas filling press are arranged in their initial position V-shaped, the wedge-shaped broadening of the sword does not mean that its distance from the two plates of the gas filling press is smaller; the distance can remain the same from bottom to top, so that small and large glass panels without hindrance through the gap between the edges of the sword and the two Plates of the gas filling press can be promoted.

The suspension of the sword is suitably adjustable in height. This makes it possible to move the sword at a distance from the belt in the conveying direction, so that it does not drag on the belt. If the sword has arrived in its position in which it is to seal, it can be lowered down to the belt of the horizontal conveyor and also seal against the belt. The up and down movement of the sword can e.g. by means of a pressure medium cylinder or by means of a driven spindle. It is particularly simple when combined with the movement with which the distance of the suspension from the plate on which the sword is mounted, is changed. This can be done with advantage in that the suspension in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction intersecting plane is displaceable in a direction that is inclined to the top of the belt of the horizontal conveyor, just so that they approach the sword - the first plate - lowers.

It has already been pointed out that it is advantageous if the blade can be pivoted about an axis extending from top to bottom, so that it can be transverse to the process in the conveying direction and so that it can stand parallel to the plates during sealing. Preferably, the sword is pivotable about its central axis, in particular reciprocally by an angle of 90 °. The axle is preferably lockable. Locking is useful when the sword is positioned in the conveying direction; However, it is unnecessary if it is applied to the one plate of gas filling press, because then already the plate prevents unwanted twisting of the sword.

In addition, the sword is preferably suspended around a horizontal, parallel to the conveying direction axis oscillating. Such a swinging suspension is appropriate so that the sword, when it is approached its plate, casually and without having to bend, from bottom to top progresses to the plate. However, a pendulum movement is undesirable when the sword is adjusted in the conveying direction. Therefore, this horizontal axis, about which the sword can oscillate, is preferably lockable. In the gas filling press, at least one of the two plates is adjustable relative to the belt of the horizontal conveyor in such a way that the distance of the lower edge of the plate can be increased. This can be done with advantage if the plate is pivoted from its position in which it forms an acute angle with the other plate, in a parallel position, because doing the lower edge of the plate performs an arcuate movement. In order for the glass sheet, which lies on the plate to be pivoted, to be held thereon, this plate requires means for holding the glass sheet. Preferably, the glass sheet is sucked to the plate. For this purpose, the plate has, for example holes, sucked through the air and thus the glass sheet can be sucked. The arcuate movement of the lower edge of the plate creates a gap through which a gas other than air is introduced from below into the space between the two plates and thus also into the space between the sheets of glass which lie against the plates can. Means for supplying the gas other than air are therefore preferably associated with the lower edge of the movable plate of the gas filling press. The means are, for example, a nozzle extending over the length of the lower edge of the plate.

Preferably, the means for supplying the gas other than air comprise a channel associated with the lower edge of the movable platen, at which a glass sheet can be spaced from the belt. This channel is intended to run parallel to the conveying direction and this channel may leak channels, which open into a gap between the belt and the lower edge of the held on the plate glass plate.

The gas other than air, in particular a heavy gas, is only needed where there are glass panel pairs between the two plates of the gas filling press. This space is bounded by the two seals extending from the bottom to the top, namely by the sword and by the one edge of the plates of the gas filling press. Preferably, therefore, in the channel a sealing body for changing the effective length of the channel is arranged longitudinally displaceable. This sealing body is preferably synchronously displaceable with the sword, so that it - in relation to the conveying direction - always in the same position as the sword. In order to achieve an effective sealing of the channel in the longitudinal direction, the sealing body is expediently longer than the distance between two branch channels, so that in each position of the sealing body at least one branch channel is covered and blocked by the sealing body. Into the channel, the gas other than air may be introduced through a plurality of individually shut-off supply lines to ensure that the gas can be uniformly supplied over the length of the insulating glass panes to be filled and rise in the space between the two bottom-up seals.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the various examples, like or corresponding parts are designated by like reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows an apparatus for assembling, gas filling and pressing of insulating glass panes in a side view, as viewed in the conveying direction, wherein the device is in its open position, in which two V-shaped pressing plates arranged at a greater distance from each other and between the plates a sealing device hangs down,

FIG. 2 shows a detail of a detail of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows the same device in a view as in FIG. 1, but the sealing device is rotated by 90 °,

FIG. 4 shows a detail of a detail of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows the same device in a view as in FIG. 3, but the plates are transferred to a parallel position and the sealing device is brought into contact with one of the two plates,

FIG. 6 shows a detail of a detail of FIG. 5, Figure 7 shows the same device in a view as in Figure 5, but the two are

Plates approach each other so far that the sealing device rests against both plates,

FIG. 8 shows in enlarged detail a section from FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 shows in detail a vertical section through the device in the lower region of the press plates, which are in the position shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a vertical section through the same area of the press as in FIG. 9, but the press plates are in the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,

FIG. 11 shows a section as in FIG. 9 through a second exemplary embodiment of the device,

FIG. 12 shows a section as in FIG. 10 through the second exemplary embodiment of the device,

FIG. 13 shows a section through the device according to FIGS. 11 and 12 in the position of the press plates during the pressing process,

FIG. 14 shows a section through the second exemplary embodiment of the device as in FIGS. 11 to 13 in a position of the press plates which they pass through during the opening process of the press,

FIG. 15 shows a section through a third exemplary embodiment of the device in a representation as in FIG. 12,

FIG. 16 shows a longitudinal section, taken at right angles to the surface of the press plates, through a section of the device, valid for all three exemplary embodiments, in a parallel position of the press plates, in which one or at the same time several insulating glass panes can be filled with a heavy gas, Figure 17 is a front view of the device, valid for all three embodiments of the device, showing where one could position the hanging sealing device when two insulating glass panes are to be filled with a heavy gas, for example less than half the length of the device;

FIG. 18 shows schematically, as in the position of the hanging shown in FIG

Sealing device the heavy gas supply into the device takes place

FIG. 19 shows, in a representation as in FIG. 17, the position of the hanging sealing device when in the device, for example, FIG. B. four insulating glass simultaneously with a

Heavy gas to be filled and claim the four insulating glass panels almost the full length of the device, and

FIG. 20 shows, in a representation as in FIG. 18, how, in the position of the suspended sealing device according to FIG. 19, the supply of heavy gas into the press takes place.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 for assembling, filling gas and compressing insulating glass panes, hereinafter referred to as "gas filling press", has two mutually opposite support devices 1 and 2 on a frame 3. The two support devices 1 and 2 each have a plate 1a and 2a, which has at many points distributed over the plates not shown through holes, which are connected to a blower, not shown, through which air optionally to form an air cushion between the plate Ia and 2a and a leaning on this glass panel 24 and 25 can be blown or sucked.

The first support means 1 stands on a fixed to the frame 3 base 7; their upper end is supported on the back of struts 8 on the frame 3 from. The arrangement is such that the plate 1a is inclined backwards at an angle of, for example, 6 ° to the vertical. The horizontal floor on which the frame 3 stands is designated by the reference numeral 9.

The second support means 2 is about a horizontal axis 10, which in Figure 1 is vertical extends to the plane, pivotally mounted on a carriage 11, which in turn is linearly displaceable on rails 12 which lie in planes perpendicular to the pivot axis 10 and inclined at the same angle to the horizontal 9, as the plate Ia is inclined to the vertical. Accordingly, the carriage 11 is displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the plate Ia direction. The displacement of the carriage 11 is effected by means of a motor 13, which drives a spindle 15 of a spindle gear 14, the spindle nut is in a housing 16 and is connected to a pivoting about the conveying direction 4 (see Figure 16) horizontal axis with the carriage 11. The spindle 15 is also mounted about an axis parallel to the conveying direction 4 in a holder 17 which is fixed on the frame 3.

The upper ends of the support means 1 and 2 are interconnected by another spindle gear 14a, the spindle 15a of which is pivotally mounted in a bracket 17a fixed to the first support means 1 and driven by a motor 13a. The associated spindle nut is located in a housing 16 a and is pivotally mounted in a holder 18 which is fixed to the movable support means 2. The spindle gears 14 and 14a are provided in duplicate, preferably in the vicinity of the four corners of the outline rectangular plates 1a and 2a.

By driving the spindles 14a, the second support means 2 can be pivoted from its initial position shown in Figure 1, in which the plates Ia and 2a V-shaped at an angle of, for example, 12 °, in the intermediate position shown in Figure 5, in which the movable plate 2a of the stationary plate Ia is opposed in parallel, preferably at a distance of 5 cm to 7 cm. From the intermediate position shown in Figure 5, the movable support means 2 can be further approximated by synchronously driving the lower and the upper spindles 15 and 15a of the fixed support means 1, see Figure 7, wherein the parallelism between them is maintained.

At the bottom of the fixed support means 1, a horizontal conveyor 20 is fixed, which is driven by a motor 21. The horizontal conveyor 20 is a Section of a composite of several sections horizontal conveyor, which extends through the entire insulating glass production line in which the invention is to be used. The horizontal conveyor 20 has a belt 19, in particular a toothed belt, which can be driven by the motor 21 by means of a drive wheel, in particular a toothed wheel. To prevent sagging, the belt 19 is supported by a series of free-running rollers or by a horizontal rail 6 on which the upper portion of the belt 19 can slide.

The gas filling press is supplied with pairs of glass panels 24 and 25 in a V-shaped arrangement at the same time by means of a feed conveyor. The Zufb ^'Förderer may consist of one aligned with the Waagerechtfbrderer Waagerechtfbrderer 20 and two support devices exist, the front sides of the plates 1 a and 2a are aligned. The support means may be air bag walls similar to the plates 1a and 2a in the gas filling press. However, the support means may also be mounted in a frame free-running rollers whose treads have a common tangent plane. Suitable Zuforderer are disclosed in DE 10 2004 009 860 Al.

In the gas filling press, the pressing plates 1a and 2a are provided with holes through which air can be blown, as desired, to produce an air cushion on which glass sheets can slide during transportation, and through which air of choice can be sucked to glass plates on them to be able to fix. In the drawings, these openings have not been drawn for reasons of clarity.

The mutually facing sides of the press plates Ia and 2a are provided with a layer 43 of rubber or other elastomeric material. This layer may be, for example, 3 mm to 4 mm thick.

In the press plate 2a is in a longitudinal groove, which is provided at the bottom of the press plate 2a and open at the bottom, a hose 41, which can optionally be evacuated or inflated. In Figure 9, it is evacuated, shown inflated in Figure 10. By the belt 19 of the horizontal conveyor 20, the gap between the glass sheet 25 and the opposite press plate 2a and between the two press plates 1 a and 2a is completed. In the gap between the stationary pressure plate Ia and the belt 19, a sealing wedge 26 can be pushed over the entire length of the stationary pressure plate Ia, which is shown in Figure 9 in its inoperative position and in Figure 10 in its operative position, in which he the inoperative position is advanced. Between the opposite movable pressing plate 2a and the belt 19, the tube 41 acts as a seal, which is shown in Figure 9 in its inoperative position and in Figure 10 in its operative position. The hose 41 extends over the full length of the press plate 2a. Between the tube 41 and the front of the movable pressure plate 2a, on which the layer 43 is made of rubber, extends parallel to the hose 41, a channel 44 which via leads 46, which are shown in dashed lines in the figures 9 and 10, with a from gas other than air, in particular with a heavy gas, can be supplied. This channel 44 is shown in Figure 16 in horizontal section and in Figures 18 and 20 in a direction parallel to the press plate 2a cut. The regularly distributed over the length of the movable pressure plate 2a leads 46 are individually shut off by solenoid valves 48. A heavy gas, which is introduced via the supply lines 46 in the channel 44, in the position shown in Figure 10 of the movable pressure plate 2a through a gap which exists between the belt 19 and the lower edge of the glass sheet 24, in the space between the Glass panels 24 and 25 flow, rising and displacing the air upwards.

In the conveying direction 4, the channel 44 and the gap 23 between the two press plates Ia and 2a can be sealed by a sealing strip 54, see Figures 17 and 19, which extends from the belt 19 to the upper edge of the press plates Ia and 2a and approximately vertical edges of the press plates Ia and 2a can be applied. The sealing strip 54 may, for. B. be articulated by means of a four-bar linkage to the stationary pressure plate Ia and pivoted to rest on the two approximately vertical edges of the press plates Ia and 2a and pivoted back from there to an ineffective position in which assembled insulating glass unhindered from the gas filling and simultaneously challenged new Glass panel pairs can be supplied. The following devices are provided to prevent outflow of gas from the gas filling press against the conveying direction 4:

At the upper edge of the fixed pressure plate Ia a parallel to the conveying direction 4 extending guide rail 50 is provided, on which a carriage 51 is slidable. The carriage 51 is pulled by an endless belt 49, which is stretched over two pulleys 73, one of which is driven. On the carriage 51, a suspension 52 is fixed, which is arranged above the gap between the two press plates Ia and 2a. On the suspension 52 hangs a sword 55, which can be pivoted about an axis 56 extending from top to bottom and about an axis parallel to the conveying direction 4 axis 56a. For pivoting about the axis 56, a rotary drive 57 is provided, preferably a pneumatic rotary drive, for. B. a rotary cylinder through which the sword 55 from the position shown in Figure 2, in which it is in a plane perpendicular to the press plates Ia and 2a oriented plane, 90 °, the position shown in Figure 4 can be pivoted in which the sword 55 extends in a plane containing the conveying direction 4. The sword 55 is preferably made of as little as possible flexible sheet metal and is coated on its two flat sides with a reversibly compressible foam, on the facing in Figure 4 of the movable pressure plate 2a side with a thicker layer 58 and on the fixed pressing plate Ia facing Side with a contrast thinner layer 59 of the foam. The sword 55 tapers wedge-shaped from top to bottom. At the lower end, the sword is so narrow that the glass panels 24 and 25 and the spacer 27 adhering to the one glass panel 25 can be conveyed unhindered past the sword 55 hanging transversely in the gap 23, see FIG. 1 and FIG.

For fixing the axis 56 of the sword 55 in the positions shown in Figures 2 and 4 jaws 60 are provided which can pinch the rotatable axis 56 of the sword 55 between them. Preferably, one of the jaws 60 is fixed and the other z. B. pneumatically actuated. The distance of the suspension 52 from the fixed press plate Ia is variable. For this purpose, either the guide rail 50 or the suspension 52 is displaceable relative to the guide rail 50 at right angles to the press plate Ia, z. Example by means of servomotors, which drive a spindle.

In the suspension 52, the sword 55 is suspended so that, as long as it is not locked, it can oscillate about its horizontal axis 56a. In the position shown in Figure 2, the axis 56a is locked and the sword 55 vertically suspended in the middle between the plates 1a and 2a positioned. In its position shown in Figure 4, the sword is rotated by 90 ° about its vertical axis 56 and the horizontal axis 56a unlocked. If the sword 55 is approximated by retracting (in FIGS. 4 and 6 to the right) the suspension 52 of the fixed plate 1a, then the sword 55 first strikes it with its lower end and then progressively contacts it from the bottom to the top, where it pivots about the horizontal axis 56a, and finally reaches the position shown in Figure 6 ..

The foam layers 58 and 59 are a bit far, z. B. 10 mm, over the lower end of the sheet of the sword 55 via. The sword 55 is a small way, for example, up to 30 cm, motor adjustable up and down. As a result, the sword 55 can be lowered sealingly onto the belt 19. A contribution to the lowering of the sword brings about the inclination of the guide rail 50, which in FIGS. 1 to 6 is inclined at right angles to the plane of the stationary press plate Ia and thus against the upper side of the horizontal challenger 20. If you increase the inclination, e.g. by 10 °, then sufficient to settle the lower end of the sword 55 without a separate motor for vertical adjustment on the belt of the horizontal conveyor 20.

In the channel 44 is by means of a driven endless rope or belt 61, in particular a toothed belt, an elongated sealing body 62 displaceable, on the underside of a dense bristles bar 64 is attached. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a view in conveying direction 4 of the end of the sealing head 62 and the strip 64 with the bristles 63. The sealing body 62 is displaceable in synchronism with the blade 55 and limits the effective length of the channel 44 over which supplied gas different from air. As FIG. 16 shows, passage channels 47 run from the channel 44 at regular intervals to the lower edge of the movable press plate 2a. The sealing body 62 is sized and arranged to completely cover and block at least two branch channels 47 in each position, see FIG. 16. The bristles 63 seal the gap between the lower edge of the movable press plate 2a and the belt 19 against leakage of the gas other than air against the conveying direction 4, in the position of the movable pressing plate 2a shown in FIG.

The gas filling press shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 and 17 to 20 operates as follows:

Glass panel pairs, which are to be assembled to an insulating glass, are preferably required concurrently in the gas filling and positioned so that a first glass sheet pair 30 with its front edge at the front edge of the press plates Ia and 2a and that more glass panel pairs 31, 32 and 33 in see FIG. 19. Preferably, as many pairs of glass sheets 30 to 33 as possible are arranged in the gas filling press. However, it is also possible, as shown in Figure 17, to exploit only a portion of the length of the gas filling press. This comes into question when glass panel pairs follow each other, which are to be assembled to different thicknesses of insulating glass and therefore can not be pressed simultaneously.

In order to consume as little heavy gas as possible, the space between the press plates Ia, 2a, in which the heavy gas is introduced, should be kept as small as possible. Therefore, the sword 55 is positioned just behind the last pair of glass sheets, in the example of FIG. 17 behind the second pair of glass sheets 31, in the example of FIG. 19 behind the fourth glass pair 33. It is a particular advantage of the invention that the sword 55 is already positioned can be or can be positioned while the glass panel pairs 30 to 33 are required in the gas filling press. For this purpose, the sword 55 is arranged so that its axis 56 is approximately in the middle between the two press plates Ia and 2a and the sword 55 is oriented at right angles to the press plates Ia and 2a, so that due to a small Although elasticity can oscillate a little parallel to the conveying direction 4, but not transverse to it, so that there is no danger that the sword 55 one of the glass panels 24, 25 or the adhesive adhesive-coated spacer 27 which adheres to one of the glass sheets, in the example shown on the glass sheet 25. The sword 55, therefore, its position in which it is to seal the gas filling press, have already taken before the glass sheet pairs 30 to 33 are positioned. The sealing body 62 is moved synchronously with the sword 55. He has therefore already taken his desired position before the glass panel pairs 30 to 33 are positioned. This enables very short cycle times of the gas filling press.

As soon as the last glass sheet pair 31 (in FIG. 17) or 33 (in FIG. 19) has passed the sword 55, the clamping of the clamping jaws 60 is released and the blade is rotated by 90 ° about its axis 56. The rotation is such that the thinner foam layer 58 faces the stationary press plate Ia and the thicker foam layer 59 faces the movable press plate 2a. Then the sword 55 is approximated by moving the suspension 52 at right angles to the fixed pressure plate Ia, until the sword 55 has created with its thinner foam layer 58 starting at the bottom of the press plate Ia to the upper edge of the press plate Ia to this. At the same time the suspension 52 is lowered until the lower end of the sword 55 is tight on the belt 19. At the same time, the movable pressure plate 2a is pivoted into a position parallel to the stationary pressure plate 1a - shown in dashed lines in Figure 9 - and then the stationary pressure plate Ia approximated by parallel displacement so far that between the spacer 27 and the glass panel 24 only a smaller, z , B. 2 mm wide gap remains. At the same time the sealing wedge 26 is advanced to its operative position, which is shown in Figure 10, and it is the sealing strip 54 is moved to its operative position in which it rests against the two front, upstanding edges of the press plates 1 a and 2a.

Has the movable pressure plate 2a reaches the desired position in which, as shown in Figure 10, only a small gap between the glass sheet 24 and the spacer 27 keeps open, then the tube 41 is inflated. Now, an optimally adapted to the format of the enclosed glass panel pairs 30 to 33 formed chamber which by the press plates Ia and 2a, by the adjacent glass plates 24 and 25, by the sealing strip 54 at the front edge of the press plates Ia and 2a, through the Sword 55, through the sealing wedge 26, the hose 41, the sealing body 62 and the bristles 63 closed on five sides and is open only upwards. In this chamber, by opening those solenoid valves 48 which are located in the region between the sealing strip 54 and the sealing body 62, heavy gas flows under the glass panel 24 and the heavy gas level rises to near the upper edge of the highest pair of glass sheets without it reaches the top. When such a level 53 is reached (see FIG. 17), the heavy gas supply is terminated by closing the solenoid valves 48, and the movable pressure plate 2a further approaches the stationary pressure plate 1a. As a result, the level of the heavy gas is typically raised by a further 15% to 20% and reaches or exceeds the upper edge of the highest glass panels. By approaching the press plates Ia and 2a, the insulating glass is closed and pressed. Subsequently, the tube 41 is partially evacuated, the gas filling press first by parallel removal of the press plate 2a of the press plate Ia and then by pivoting the movable press plate 2a in its initial position (Figure 2), in which the two press plates are V-shaped aligned to each other again opened, the sealing wedge 26 is moved back to its inoperative position, the sealing strip 54 is moved to its inoperative position, the assembled insulating glass panes are conveyed out by driving the belt 19 from the gas filling press, the sword 55 is with its suspension 52 in the middle between the two Press plates 1 a and 2 a moves, rotated by 90 °, then clamped again, and can, while the next glass panel pairs are required in the gas filling, are already moved together with the sealing body 62 in its next target position.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 in that the measures for sealing provided at the lower edge of the movable press plate 2a have been changed. For sealing the gap between the lower edge of the movable press plate 2a and the belt 19, a second sealing wedge 65 is now provided, which is displaceable in a manner corresponding to the sealing wedge 26 on the obliquely cut bottom side of the press plate 2a. When pivoting and moving the pressure plate 2a, the second sealing wedge 65 is taken. So that he can lie down on the upper side of the belt 19, a layer 66 of yielding is on the underside of the sealing wedge Foam provided, the underside of which is covered with a spring plate 67. An extension 69 of the spring plate 67 projects into a downwardly open slot 70 of the sealing wedge 65 and in this way establishes a positive connection between the spring plate 67 and the sealing wedge 65.

According to the obliquely cut underside of the movable pressure plate 2a, the sealing body 62 has a different profile with a correspondingly inclined underside. The channel 44, in which the sealing body 62 is displaceable, is open at the bottom and opens into comb-like cutouts 71 of the sealing wedge. The incisions 71 have the function of the branch channels 47 in the first embodiment. The length of the sealing body 62 is selected so that it blocks at least two cuts of the sealing wedge 65 in each position.

The hose 41 is omitted. Instead, as a possible alternative, e.g. between the sealing wedge 65 and the underside of the movable pressure plate 2 a a longitudinal sealing Schnür 72 is provided, as provided in a corresponding manner between the underside of the fixed pressure plate Ia and the local sealing wedge 26 there.

Fig. 11 shows the gas filling press in the V-shaped starting position of the two pressing plates 1a and 2a after positioning the glass sheets 24 and 25. Fig. 12 shows the gas filling press in the position in which the movable pressing plate 2a is opposed to the fixed pressing plate 1a in parallel and between Spacer 27 of the insulating glass pane and the glass panel 24 is still a small gap for introducing heavy gas is present. The second sealing wedge 65 is in its operative position, the foam layer 66 is slightly compressed. In the illustrated position, the sealing wedge 65 is expediently pushed only after the movable pressure plate 2a has reached its position shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 shows the gas filling press in its pressing position, into which the movable pressing plate 2a passes by being further approximated to the stationary pressing plate 1a. The foam layer 66 is thereby further compressed. After the pressing, the second sealing wedge 65 is retracted to its inoperative position and the movable pressing plate 2a is first moved away from the fixed pressing plate 1a in parallel to itself the position shown in Figure 14 and from there pivoted back into the position shown in Figure 11.

In the example shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the foam layer 66 is enclosed by a U-shaped bent spring plate 67 so that it covers the underside and the upper side of the foam layer 66. With a rounded front edge of the spring plate 67, the second sealing wedge 65 can be moved more easily into its sealing position (FIG. 12) than with the embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 14.

The embodiment shown in Figure 15 differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 12 in that the second sealing wedge 65 on its underside has no resilient foam strips. Even with this simplified form of the sealing wedge 65, a seal is possible. However, it is then advisable to leave the sealing wedge in the position shown in FIG. 15, when the movable pressing plate 2a is brought closer to the stationary pressing plate 1a for closing and pressing the insulating glass pane.

The fact that the glass sheets in the assembly and pressing device are not perpendicular to the belt 40a, but inclined and press only with one of its lower edges on the belt 40a, they can be conveyed without slipping, so that their exact alignment is not lost to each other. They can also be filled in an advantageous and previously unknown in the prior art manner from below over its full length with heavy gas, without having for a permeable belt, which is pulled away over a gas filling channel, or two spaced parallel running belt in the horizontal conveyor, between which heavy gas could be introduced between the glass panels. Instead, according to the invention, a unitary, absolutely dense belt 40a can be used as the conveying member because the heavy gas can be easily introduced from the side of the movable pressing plate 2a through a gap between the belt 40a and one of the glass sheets 24. This allows a much simpler construction of the assembly and pressing device adapted for gas filling than hitherto known in the art and allowed by the simultaneous filling of two or more than two insulating glass panes with heavy gas short cycle times and a cheaper insulating glass production than before, especially when manufacturing insulating glass panes with frequently occurring standard dimensions. In this case, the invention is very versatile, because it can not only rectangular insulating glass panes are made, but also so-called model discs, which have a shape deviating from the rectangular shape outline. Examples of these are shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 and 15 to 17. It is also possible to produce triple insulating glass panes. For this purpose, one first builds, as described, two glass panels gas-filled together and then promotes the previously in the buffer station successively positioned third glass panes in the assembly and pressing device to connect gas filled with the already assembled first and second glass panes, as shown in the figure 18 is shown.

In addition, it is possible to produce large sized insulating glass panes that are large enough to accommodate only one of them in the assembly and pressing apparatus, such as in a conventional insulating glass manufacturing line. This can for example be done so that the two glass sheets are successively conveyed against the immovable support means by the mating station and the buffer station into the assembly and pressing device and only there in pairs opposite each other positioned by the movable pressure plate 2a, the first run-in Glass pane sucks, takes over and thus makes room for the moving on of the second, with a spacer occupied glass panel.

In all these cases, the heavy gas can rise between parallel glass plates in a uniform upward flow without major turbulence and displace the lighter air upwards without mixing too much with it.

Finally, it is also possible to assemble insulating glass panes without filling them with a heavy gas. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS:

1. Supporting device

Ia. plate

2. Supporting device

2a. plate

3rd frame

4. Transport direction

5th

6. Rail

7. Socket

8. aspiration

9. Horizontal

10th axis

11. sledges

12. Rails

13. engine

13a. engine

14. Spindle gear

14a. spindle gear

15th spindle

15a. spindle

16. Housing

16a. casing

17. Holder

17a. bracket

18th bracket

19. Belt

20. Horizontal conveyor

21st engine

22. Axles

23. Split 24. Glass board

25. Glass tablet

26. Sealing wedge

27. Spacer

30th first pair of glass sheets

31. second glass panel pair

32nd third pair of glass panels

33rd fourth pair of glass plates

41. hose

43. rubber layer

44th channel

45th partition walls

46. Supply line

47th stitch channel

48. Solenoid valves

49. belt

50. Guide rail

51. Sledge

52. Suspension

53. level

54. sealing strip

55th sword

56. 56a axles of 55

57. Rotary drive

58 .. layer of foam

59. layer of foam

60. Jaws

61. Belt

62. sealing body

63. Bristles

64th bar 65. 2. sealing wedge

66. Layer of foam

67. spring plate

68th

69th extension

70th slot

71. comb-like cutouts

72. sealing cord

73. pulleys

Claims

Claims:

An apparatus for assembling insulating glass panes filled with a gas other than air, comprising two plates (1a, 2a) which are mutually displaceable in their mutual distance, and which consist of a

Position in which they are arranged in a V-shape to each other, can be approximated to each other in a mutually parallel, inclined to the horizontal position, with a in the vicinity of the lower edge of the plates (Ia, 2a) arranged horizontal conveyor (20) as Conveying member has a belt (61), with at least two seals (54, 55) which extend from the upper run of the belt (61) to a position above the belt (61) and in the conveying direction (4) of the belt (61) spaced from each other, at least one of the seals (55) between the two plates (1a, 2a) being effective, comprising means for holding a glass sheet (24) on at least one of the plates (2a) and means for receiving from below to introduce a gas other than air into the space between the two plates (1a, 2a),

characterized in that as between the plates (Ia, 2a) effective seal a hanging sword (55) is provided, which has a movable along the upper edge of a first of the two plates (Ia) suspension (52) whose distance from that

Level is variable, in which the front of the first plate (Ia) is located, and that the sword (55) is provided at least on one side with a reversibly yielding sealant (58, 59).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sword (55) is provided on both sides with sealant (58, 59).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealant

(58, 59) over the full length of the sword (55).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealant (58, 59) extends a little way beyond the lower end of the sword (55) addition.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealant (58, 59) from bottom to top in the same width on the sword (55).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealant (58, 59) on one side of the sword (55) in a thicker layer (58) than on the opposite side of the sword (55) is provided.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the two plates (Ia) is arranged fixed.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the suspension (22) of the sword (55) on the fixed plate (Ia) is mounted.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 and claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the thinner layer (59) of the sealant of the fixed plate (7) faces.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sword (55) widens from bottom to top.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the sword (55) wedge-shaped widening from bottom to top.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the wedge angle with which the sword (55) widens from bottom to top, coincides with the angle which occupy the two plates (Ia, 2a) in their V-shaped initial position, in which they have the greatest distance from each other.

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suspension (52) of the sword (55) is adjustable in height.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the sword (55) eats so adjustable in its altitude that the sword (55) or only the sealant (58, 59), with which the sword (55) is provided until on the strap (61) when the sword (55) of the first plate (Ia) is tight, and that the sword (55) or the sealant (58, 59) from the belt (61) are spaced when the sword (55) of the first plate (1 a) is not present.

15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the suspension (52) is displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (4) in a direction inclined in such a way against the flat upper side of the belt (61), that the sword (55) lowers when approaching the first plate (Ia).

16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sword (55) about an axis extending from top to bottom (56), in particular about the central axis of the sword (55), is pivotable.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the sword (55) is pivotable by 90 ° about its axis extending from bottom to top (56).

18. The apparatus of claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the bottom upwardly extending axis (56) can be locked.

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sword (55) about a horizontal, to the conveying direction (4) parallel axis (56 a) is suspended swinging.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the axis (56 a) about which the sword (55) can oscillate, can be locked.

21. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the plates (2a), on which the means for holding a glass sheet (24) are provided, and the belt (61) relative to each other are adjustable in such a way that the distance of the lower edge of the plate (2a) from the belt (61) is increased,

and that the means for supplying the gas other than air is associated with the lower edge of the plate (2a).

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the means for supplying the gas other than air comprise a channel (44) which is associated with the lower edge of a plate (2a), to which a glass sheet (24) at a distance from 61, that the channel (44) runs parallel to the conveying direction (4) and that from this channel (44) branch channels (47) emanate into the gap between the belt (61) and the lower one Edge of the plate (2a) held a glass sheet (24) open.

23. The device according to claim 22, characterized in that in the channel (44) a sealing body (62) for changing the effective length of the channel (44) is arranged longitudinally displaceable.

24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that the sealing body (62) concurrently with the sword (55) is displaceable.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the sealing body (62) is longer than the distance between two branch channels (47).

26. The apparatus of claim 23, 24 or 25, characterized in that the channel (44) can be supplied by a plurality of individually lockable feed lines (46) with the gas other than air.