EP2172612B1 - Hollow transom profile and method and device for production of same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rung hollow profile made of metal, preferably made of aluminum for insulating glazing and a method and apparatus for producing the rung hollow profile.

In insulating glazing, rungs between two panes of e.g. Arranged windows. The rungs are flat hollow profile bars, which are usually put together by means of cross connectors and are connected with connecting plug with the spacer frame of the double glazing. The sprouts are preferably coated with paint to match the color of the rungs to the color of the window frames.

It is known to produce the sprouts by extrusion as extruded hollow sections and then apply the desired color by means of electrostatic powder coating. A disadvantage of this method is that the wall thickness of the extruded hollow sections with 0.6 to 0.8 mm is relatively large, since thin wall thicknesses can not be produced by the extrusion process. As a result, sprouts produced by extrusion are relatively heavy and expensive because much material is needed. Furthermore, the coating with the desired color can take place only after the profiling of the hollow profile strand. In addition, the problem with powder coating is that the sharp lines focus on the field lines. Overcoating of the workpiece edges is often the result. In addition, a powder coated surface is relatively uneven and relatively high in color is needed.

The DE 197 51 114 A1 discloses a rung hollow profile with an outer side and an inner side and two edge sides. According to the DE 197 51 114 A1 The inside and the outside of the rung hollow profile are printed with color. To do so, press application rollers on the inside and the outside of the transom hollow profile on it. The leadership of the transom hollow profile is carried out so that the inside and outside are arranged above and below and the two edge sides of the transom hollow profile are aligned vertically. The seams having the weld are in accordance with DE 197 51 114 A1 by spraying paint z. B. coated by Farbstoffsprühdosen.

Another method for the production of Sprossenhohlprofilen is from the EP 1 231 351 A2 known. The production according to EP 1 231 351 A2 done by roll deformation. In this case, a cover material is applied to a metallic ribbon material. Subsequently, the flat strip material is deformed with the covering material by means of roll bending to a rung hollow profile.

Another method for the production of Sprossenhohlprofilen is from the EP 0 577 150 B1 known. The production according to EP 0 577 150 B1 done by roll deformation. The desired color is applied to a metallic ribbon material with a roller printing unit. Subsequently, the flat strip material is cut into strips and these strips are deformed by means of roll bending until the two longitudinal edges of the strips abut one another. This creates a flat endless hollow profile bar. The two abutting edges are then welded together. An advantage of this method is that profiles with low wall thickness can be produced. In addition, much less color is required for the application of paint than in powder coating, and a smoother surface can be produced. A disadvantage of the roll bending process, however, is that the color peels off in the region of the weld during welding and the weld is visible, which is unattractive. To overcome this disadvantage, the EP 0 577 150 B1 to provide a profile necking in the area of the weld after welding wherein the weld is provided in the region of the bottom of the profile retraction, so that the weld is optically hidden.

In addition, it is known to produce transom hollow sections with the roll bending process, but without applying paint to the flat strip material prior to roll bending. Instead, the finished bent and profiled transom hollow profiles are powder-coated. By the subsequent coating by means of powder coating instead of the print job according to the EP 0 577 150 B1 Although the weld can be made invisible, but the powder coating has the disadvantages mentioned above and is possible only in thick layers to achieve full coverage.

Furthermore, it is known outside the rung production in longitudinally welded round tubes, scrape these outside partially in order to obtain a good surface. This is done by means of an annular blade carrier head, which has three blade plates, which are arranged distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction of the blade carrier head, wherein the blade carrier head oscillates about its ring axis. The welded round tube is driven by the knife carrier head through, in each case one of the knives is in engagement with the round tube in such a way that the outside of the round tube is scraped off in regions.

In summary, it should be noted that the procedure of EP 0 577 150 B1 , Especially because of the small wall thickness of the profiles produced by this method and the necessary for the application of ink small amount of ink is the one that has proven most.

Object of the present invention is therefore the method of EP 0 577 150 B1 to further develop that a cost-effective, simple and efficient method for the production of hollow profile metal profiles for insulating glazing, is provided, wherein the produced Sprossenhohlprofil should have the lowest possible wall thickness and a uniform color-coated surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the cost-effective, simple and efficient production of such sprouts hollow profiles made of metal for insulating glazings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a cost-effective and easy to produce rung profile of metal for rungs for insulating glazing, which has the smallest possible wall thickness and a uniform surface coated with paint.

These objects are achieved by the features of claims 1, 4 and 12. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the respective subsequent subclaims.

Figur 1:

Ein erfindungsgemäßes Sprossenhohlprofil im Querschnitt

Figur 2:

Schematisch die Herstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Sprossenhohlprofils aus einem Metallbreitband in perspektivischer Darstellung

Figur 3:

Einen Querschnitt eines längsseitig verschweißten flachovalen Endloshohlprofilsstrangs vor dem erfindungsgemäßen Schweißnaht-Abtragen, das heißt mit erhabener Schweißnaht

Figur 4:

Schematisch eine Seitenansicht des Hohlprofilsstrangs gemäß Figur 3

Figur 5:

Schematisch eine Schweißnahtabtrageinrichtung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung

Figur 6:

Schematisch eine Farbauftrageinrichtung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung

Figur 7:

Schematisch ein Fenster mit einer Isolierverglasung in einer Vorderansicht

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to a drawing. Show it:

FIG. 1:

An inventive transom hollow profile in cross section

FIG. 2:

Schematically the preparation of the rung hollow profile according to the invention of a metal broadband in perspective view

FIG. 3:

A cross-section of a longitudinally welded flat-oval continuous hollow profile strand before the weld seam ablation according to the invention, that is with a raised weld

FIG. 4:

Schematically a side view of the hollow profile strand according to FIG. 3

FIG. 5:

Schematically a Schweißnahtabtrageinrichtung the device according to the invention

FIG. 6:

Schematically a paint application device of the device according to the invention

FIG. 7:

Schematically a window with an insulating glazing in a front view

A window 1 ( Fig. 7 ) with insulating glazing generally has a window frame 2, at least two spaced-apart, mounted in the window frame 2 glass sheets 3 and the glass sheets 3 at a distance holding, filled with desiccant spacer frame 4. In the space between the glass panes 3 rungs 5 are arranged. When the rungs 5 are cut to the desired length rung hollow profiles or hollow profile rods 6 made of metal, in particular aluminum with a longitudinal weld 7 (FIG. Fig. 1 . 3.4 ), which are put together to form a crossroads. At the intersections, the rungs 5 are assembled in a conventional manner with cross connectors (not shown). Connecting plugs take over in a conventional manner, the storage of the rungs 5 on the spacer frame. 4

Rungs 5 may have different hollow profile cross-sectional shapes. A popular transom hollow profile 6 ( Fig. 1 ), has a profile wall 6a and a profile outer surface 6b and a profile inner surface 6c. The profile wall 6a has parallel to the glass sheets 3 arranged or arranged side walls 8 and preferably transversely or perpendicular to the side walls 8 extending, extending in a width direction 13 of the transom hollow profile 6 end walls 9. In the area of the side walls 8 and end walls 9, the profile outer surface 6b is planar. Since the cross section of the side walls 8 to the end walls 9 tapers, that is, the width of the transom hollow profile 6 decreases, the profile wall 6a also four transition walls 10. The transition walls 10 each connect a side wall 8 with the circumferential direction of the transom hollow profile 6 seen next end wall 9. For this purpose, the transition walls 10 are preferably hollow-fluted or seen from the outside of the transom hollow profile 6 is concave. Furthermore, the transom hollow profile 6 has a longitudinal extent in the direction of a longitudinal axis 11. In addition, the transom hollow profile 6 two parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 extending, abutting abutting edges or longitudinal edges 12, wherein the two abutting edges 12 are welded together by means of the also parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 extending longitudinal weld seam 7. The abutting edges 12 and the longitudinal weld 7 are preferably provided in the region of one of the two end walls 9. In particular, the two abutting edges 12 and the longitudinal weld seam 7 are arranged transversely with respect to the extent of the corresponding end wall 9 in the width direction 13. Advantageously, the transom hollow profile 6 is designed to be symmetrical overall to a central plane 14 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 and perpendicular to the width direction 13.

The production of the rung hollow profile 6 according to the invention takes place in a, preferably continuous, process by roll deformation and longitudinal welding of a metallic flat strip material or metal strip 15 (FIG. Fig. 2 ). For this purpose, first the relatively wide metal strip 15, which is suitably wound on a reel (not shown), deducted from this, carried out by a paint coater, in this continuously coated on one side with paint. The coating is carried out by applying the ink by means of a known roller pressure device with an applicator roll (not shown). The applicator roller expediently consists of metal or has at least one outer sheath of metal.

After the subsequent drying of the paint in a drying device through which the coated metal strip 15 is expediently carried out continuously, the coated metal strip 15 is expediently rewound and then cut into a plurality of mutually parallel longitudinal strips 16. This is expediently also carried out continuously in a cutting device. Double-sided longitudinal edges 16a of the metal strips 16 later form the two longitudinally extending abutting edges 12.

In a subsequent to the cutting device known rolling bending device (not shown) is now in each case a metal strip 16th continuously deformed by rolling deformation to a longitudinally slotted endless hollow profile 17 so that the two abutting edges 12 abut each other and forms the color-coated side of the metal strip 16, the profile outer surface 6b. The roll forming takes place in a manner known per se with a plurality of bending roller pairs (not shown) arranged one behind the other in a conveying direction in which the metal strip 16 is conveyed. In this case, the metal strip 16 is in each case carried out between the two bending rollers of a bending roller pair. One bending roller has a concave peripheral surface and the other bending roller a convexly curved peripheral surface, wherein the peripheral surfaces are coordinated and the curvature of roller pair to roller pair increases so that gradually the metal strip is bent to the longitudinally slotted endless hollow profile 17.

The endless hollow profile 17 expediently has a substantially flat oval, elliptical cross section, wherein, as in the later rung hollow profile 6, the extent of the endless tube 17 in the width direction 13 is less than in the height direction 18. That is to say, a main axis 19 of the elliptical cross section is parallel to the height direction 18 and a minor axis 20 is parallel to the width direction 13. The endless hollow profile 17 thus has two main apexes 21 opposite each other in the direction of the main axis 19 and two secondary peaks 22 opposite in the direction of the minor axis 20. Here, the profile wall 6a in the region of both vertex 21, 22, but at least in the region of one, preferably both of the main vertex 21 rounded, in particular circular arc-shaped. In particular, the profile outer surface 6b in the main vertices 21 has a radius of 2 to 4 mm, preferably 3 mm. The two main apexes 21 also have a greater curvature than the side apex 22. In addition, the endless hollow profile 17 is also already preferably formed symmetrically to the center plane 14 and has a longitudinal extent in the direction of the longitudinal axis 11. The two abutting edges 12 and thus also the longitudinal weld 7 are also expediently arranged on one of the two main vertices 21.

In a subsequent to the rolling bending device known welding device of the device according to the invention (not shown), the two abutting abutting edges 12 are welded together by generating the longitudinal weld 7. The welding takes place for example by means of laser welding or induction welding.

Since, as already explained above, during welding, the paint on the outer profile surface 6b in the area around the longitudinal weld seam 7 loosens around, and the weld seam 7 projects beyond the profile wall 6a to the outside, it is provided according to the invention to remove the longitudinal weld seam 7 on the outside in such a way that Material of the longitudinal weld 7 no longer beyond the profile wall 6a protrudes outwards and the profile outer surface 6b occurring in this area is smooth and planar, and subsequently coat the resultant color-free area of the profile outer surface 6b with paint.

The provided, the welding device downstream, Schweißnahtabtrageinrichtung 23 (FIG. Fig. 5 ) of the device according to the invention has a blade holder 24 for holding at least one, preferably three blades 25 for scraping off the longitudinal weld seam 7. The blade holder 24 is preferably annular and has a central through opening 26 through which the endless hollow profile 17 (in Fig. 5 instead, a round tube 41 is shown) for scraping. Furthermore, the blade holder 24 has a preferably central axis of rotation 27, which is preferably parallel to a transport direction 28, in which the endless hollow profile 17 is transported or moved through the opening 26 by means of suitable transport means. The transport direction 28 is parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 of the endless hollow profile 17. The entire blade holder 24 and thus the blades 25 are rotatably driven to oscillate about the rotational axis 27. The oscillation angle, ie the angle which the blade holder 24 sweeps over in one direction, is expediently 5 to 25 °, preferably 10 to 25 °. Furthermore, the blade holder 24 expediently carries out 5 to 60, preferably 20 to 40, reciprocations per minute.

The three blades 25 are arranged distributed around the opening 26, wherein they protrude radially in relation to the axis of rotation 27 in the opening 26, so project beyond the opening 26 bounding opening wall surface 29 radially inwardly, so that by means of the blades 25, the longitudinal weld 7 can be scraped off. In this case, the three blades 25 are preferably arranged distributed around the axis of rotation 27, ie viewed in the circumferential direction of the opening 26. In addition, the blades 25 preferably have an identical spatial shape. A blade cutting edge 30 expediently has a concave, in particular curved about the axis of rotation 27, arcuate course. In addition, the blade cutting edge 30 preferably extends in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction 28 level.

To scrape the longitudinal weld 7, one of the blades 25 is always arranged so that it is in engagement with the endless hollow profile 17, while this is guided through the opening 26 by. In particular, the endless profile 17 is guided through the opening 26 in such a way that the longitudinal weld seam 7 points upward, so that always the upper blade 25 is in engagement with the endless hollow profile 17. Since the endless hollow profile 17 when passing the blade 25 performs a relative movement to the blade 25 in the transport direction 28 and the blade 25 due to the rotational movement about the rotation axis 27 simultaneously performs a relative movement to the endless hollow profile 17 perpendicular to the transport direction 28, the longitudinal weld 7 by means of a pulling section of the endless hollow profile 17 on the outside, ie from the outer profile surface 6b ago, cut off or scraped. In this case, the longitudinal weld 7 is removed.

In order to adjust the height of each engaging blade 25 to the height of the endless hollow profile 17, the blade holder 24 is preferably adjustable in height. The height of the blade 25 must be adjusted so that the longitudinal weld seam 7 is scraped off so far that the longitudinal weld seam 7 no longer projects beyond the profile wall 6 on the outside and a smooth weld seam outer surface 7a (FIG. Fig. 1 ), but the profile wall 6 only in scrapped with a small amount. The weld outer surface 7a of the ablated weld seam 7 preferably has a roughness Ra of 0.152 to 0.550 μm, preferably 0.250 μm, and a roughness Rz of 0.85 to 3.1 μm, preferably 2.7 μm. This also requires a corresponding adaptation of the blade arrangement and the shape of the blade cutting edge 30. The roughness values indicated were determined over the length (parallel to the longitudinal axis 11).

The welding seam removal device 23 is adjoined by a profiling device (not shown) known per se of the device according to the invention, in which the longitudinally welded endless hollow profile 17 is profiled in such a way that it produces the desired, e.g. receives the above-described cross-sectional shape of the produced rung hollow profile 6. The profiling device expediently has a plurality of profiling rollers in a manner known per se. In particular, the endless hollow profile 17 is profiled in such a way that the two main vertices 21 are flattened to form the end walls 9 and the two side vertices 22 are flattened to form the side walls 8. In addition, the concave transition walls 10 are pressed.

According to the invention, the rung hollow profile 6 is now coated as described above after profiling subsequently again with color and only in a strip-shaped color-free area on the longitudinal weld 7 and around the longitudinal weld 7 around where the color has detached during welding. This strip-shaped color-free, planar area is consequently located on the end wall 9, which has the longitudinal weld seam 7. For this purpose, the profiling device is followed by an inking device 31 of the device according to the invention. The inking device 31 comprises a paint container 32 having the paint to be applied, a dye receiving roller 33 for receiving the ink from the ink container and transferring the ink to a stencil roller 34, squeegee means 35 for doctoring excess ink from the stencil roller 34, and an applicator roller 36 for applying the ink on the rung hollow profile 6. The Rung hollow profile 6 is thereby carried out in a direction preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 and the transport direction 28, transport direction 42 by the inking device 31. The ink pickup roller 33 is rotatably drivable about a preferably horizontal to the transport direction 42, preferably horizontal axis of rotation 33a in a rotational direction 33b and arranged so that it dips into the ink container 32 and thereby absorbs color. The stencil roller 34 is also rotatably drivable about a perpendicular to the transport direction 42, preferably horizontal rotation axis 34a, however, in opposite direction of rotation 34b to the ink pickup roller 33. The ink pickup roller 33 and the stencil roller 34 roll in such a way from each other that the recorded by the ink pickup roller 33 color is transferred to the stencil roller 34. The die roller 34 also has in its peripheral surface 37 at least one circumferential groove (not shown). The channel determines the amount of color and the width of the colored strip which is applied to the transom hollow profile 6. For this purpose, the excess ink is scraped off from the peripheral surface 37 by means of the doctor device 35, so that only the ink remains in the groove on the peripheral surface 37. The channel expediently has a depth, ie radial extent of 0.1 to 0.3 mm, preferably 0.15 to 0.2 mm. In addition, the channel expediently has a width, ie extent parallel to the axis of rotation 34a of 2 to 4 mm, preferably 2.5 to 3 mm. This remaining in the groove color is then transferred from the stencil roll 34 on the applicator roll 36, to which roll the stencil roll 34 and the applicator roll 36 to each other.

The application roller 36 is also rotatably driven about a direction perpendicular to the transport direction 42, preferably horizontal rotation axis 36a, but in opposite direction of rotation 36b to the die roller 34. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the applicator roll 36 also has a jacket wall 38 which consists of rubber. In particular, the jacket wall 38 consists of silicone rubber or PU (polyurethane). In addition, points the material of the jacket wall 38 preferably has a hardness of 20 to 80 Shore A, preferably 70 to 80 Shore A on.

The particular advantage of the jacket wall made of rubber against a jacket wall made of metal, especially steel, lies in the different degrees of hardness that can be used, and on the function to compensate for small depressions in the material to be printed.

The ink is transferred to the applicator roll 36 so that the applicator roll 36 on its smooth, non-profiled peripheral surface 40 has a circumferentially extending color strip with a predetermined width, ie extension parallel to the axis of rotation 36a of the applicator roll 36 has. This color strip is printed by means of the applicator roll 36 and by this on the rung hollow profile 6. For this purpose, the transom hollow profile 6 with the longitudinal weld seam 7 having end wall 9 of the applicator roll 36 facing away from the applicator roll 36 passed over, in particular with the corresponding end wall 9 facing upwards performed under this. In this case, the applicator roll 36 rolls on the corresponding end wall 9, wherein it exerts a predetermined pressure on this, so that the color is printed in strip form of the applicator roll 36 on the weld outer surface 7a and adjacent to this profile outer surface 6b. In this case, the rung hollow profile 6 is suitably supported by corresponding counter-pressure means (not shown).

The color strip printed on the end wall 9 by means of the applicator roll is in this case dimensioned such that it covers the weld seam outer surface 7a and the region of the profile outer surface 6b, from which the previously applied paint has detached during welding. This results in a closed ink layer on the entire profile outer surface 6b of the rung hollow profile 6. In this case, the amount of applied by the applicator roll 36 color and thus the coating thickness is determined in particular by the depth of the groove. This is expediently determined so that the coating thickness in the region of the color strip largely the Coating thickness in the other profile wall 6 corresponds. This ensures a homogeneous coating thickness over the entire profile outer surface 6b, resulting in a consistent color result.

Expediently, the device according to the invention also has a device for separating the endless rung hollow profile 6 into rung hollow sections 6 of predetermined length for use as a rung 5.

In the method according to the invention, it is advantageous that, due to the production by means of roll forming, sprout hollow profiles 6 of any type can be produced with very small wall thicknesses. The wall thickness of the produced rung hollow profile 6 is preferably 0.35 to 0.4 mm, preferably 0.37 to 0.4 mm. As a result, enormous material costs are saved in comparison to production by means of extrusion. Furthermore, the transom hollow profile 6 produced according to the invention has a homogeneous color coating on the entire profile outer surface 6b. The coating is done in all areas by means of printing the ink or printing with color. In this coating process much less color is required than in powder coating, which in turn saves costs. In addition, a much smoother surface is obtained. Due to the high material costs, the process according to the invention is thus profitable despite the two additional process steps.

It has been found within the scope of the invention that in particular the removal of the weld by means of the pulling cut by suitable means, especially the oscillating blade 25, is particularly advantageous. Because this provides in a single pass with steam cleaning without reworking a sufficiently smooth weld outer surface 7a on which the printed ink adheres permanently. For even during the profiling of the endless hollow profile 17, the weld seam 7 no longer bulges, so that the planar weld outer surface 7a is maintained. This was not predictable without further ado. As a result, a particularly advantageous selection was made to the effect that the removal takes place before profiling.

Furthermore, the transom hollow profile 6 according to the invention has no profile recesses which could interfere with one another when connecting several profiles.

Of course, it is also within the scope of the invention, the metal strip 15 after coating with paint and the subsequent drying first Aufwickwickeln and later continue to process or cut into the metal strip 16 and to wind this first. This can also be done in specially provided for, separate from the device according to the invention devices. Alternatively, in particular prefabricated, metal strips 16 can be used and these are coated directly with paint.

Furthermore, the manufacturing process as a whole or the individual steps can not run continuously.

Claims (25)

1. Hollow transom profile (6) of metal, welded longitudinally in the region of two abutting edges (12) by a longitudinal weld seam (7), intended for insulating glazing units and having a profile wall (6a) and a profile outer surface (6b) coated with paint,
   characterized in that
   the hollow transom profile (6) is produced by roll-forming from a metal strip (16) printed at least on one side with paint and the longitudinal weld seam (7) has a weld seam outer surface (7a), which does not project outwards beyond the profile wall (6a), and in that the weld seam outer surface (7a) is printed with paint in the form of a strip of paint in such a way that there is an uninterrupted layer of paint over the entire profile outer surface (6b) and the entire profile outer surface (6b) is printed with paint.
2. Hollow transom profile according to Claim 1, characterized in that
   the profile wall (6a) has two side walls (8), arranged parallel to one another, and two end walls (9), preferably running transversely in relation to the side walls (8), the cross section of the side walls (8) preferably narrowing towards the end walls (9), the profile wall (6a) having four transitional walls (10), which respectively connect a side wall (8) to the nearest end wall (9) as seen in the circumferential direction of the hollow transom profile (6).
3. Hollow transom profile according to Claim 2, characterized in that
   the longitudinal weld seam (7) is provided in the region of one of the two end walls (9), the longitudinal weld seam (7) preferably being arranged centrally with respect to the extent of the end wall (9) in a widthwise direction (13) of the hollow transom profile (6).
4. Apparatus for the production, in particular continuous production, of a hollow transom profile (6) of metal intended for insulating glazing units and having a profile wall (6a) and a profile outer surface (6b), in particular for the production of a hollow transom profile (6) according to one or more of the preceding claims, having

   a) a roll-bending device for creating a longitudinally slit endless hollow profile (17) with two abutting edges (12) lying against one another and comprising a metal strip (16) printed with paint at least on one side,

   b) a welding device for creating a longitudinal weld seam (7) by welding the two abutting edges (12) to one another,

   c) a profiling device for introducing profilings into the welded endless hollow profile (17) to create the hollow transom profile (6), characterized by

   d) a weld-seam removal device (23), arranged in particular downstream of the welding device and upstream of the profiling device and intended for removing, in particular scraping off, the longitudinal weld seam (7) on the outside to create a smooth weld seam outer surface (7a),

   e) a paint application device (31), arranged in particular downstream of the profiling device and intended for printing the weld seam outer surface (7a), preferably the region of the profile outer surface (6b) adjacent thereto, with paint in strip form in such a way that there is an uninterrupted layer of paint on the entire profile outer surface (6b) and the entire profile outer surface (6b) is printed with paint.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the apparatus has a paint coating device for printing paint onto the metal strip (16) or a metal band (15) from which metal strips (16) can be cut out.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 and/or 5,
   characterized in that
   the weld-seam removal device (23) has a blade holder (24) for holding at least one, preferably three, blades (25) for scraping off the longitudinal weld seam (7), the blade holder (24) preferably being of an annular form and having a central through-hole (26), through which the endless hollow profile (17) can be passed by means of suitable transporting means for scraping off.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the blades (25), in particular with the blade holder (24), can be driven in an oscillating rotatable manner about a preferably central axis of rotation (27), an oscillating angle, that is to say the angle by which the blades (25), in particular with the blade holder (24), can be driven in one direction, being preferably 5 to 25°, with preference 10 to 15°.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the blades (25), in particular with the blade holder (24), can be driven at 5 to 60, with preference 20 to 40, movements back and forth per minute.
9. Apparatus according to one or more of Claims 6 to 8,
   characterized in that
   a blade cutting edge (30) has an arcuate profile that is concave, in particular curved about the axis of rotation (27), the blade cutting edge (30) preferably extending in a plane perpendicular to the transporting direction (28).
10. Apparatus according to one or more of Claims 4 to 9,
    characterized in that
    the paint application device (31) has an application roller (36) for applying the paint to the hollow transom profile (6), which can be driven in a rotatable manner about an axis of rotation (36a), the application roller (36) preferably having a casing wall (38) that consists of rubber, in particular of silicone rubber or PU (polyurethane), the material of the casing wall (38) expediently having a Shore A hardness of 20 to 80, with preference 70 to 80.
11. Apparatus according to Claim 10,
    characterized in that
    the paint application device (31) has a stencil roller (34) for transferring the paint to be printed onto the hollow transom profile (6), in particular a strip of paint to be printed on, onto the application roller (36),
    preferably the stencil roller (34) having in its circumferential surface (37) at least one groove running around in the circumferential direction for receiving the paint to be printed onto the hollow transom profile (6),
    the groove preferably having a depth, that is to say radial extent, of 0.1 to 0.3 mm, with preference 0.15 to 0.2 mm, and expediently a width, that is to say an extent parallel to an axis of rotation (34a) of the stencil roller (34), of 2 to 4 mm, with preference 2.5 to 3 mm.
12. Method for the production, in particular the continuous production, of a hollow transom profile (6) of metal for insulating glazing units, having a profile wall (6a) and a profile outer surface (6b), in particular for the production of a hollow transom profile (6) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 3, preferably using an apparatus according to one or more of Claims 4 to 11, with the following method steps:

    a) creating a longitudinally slit endless hollow profile (17) with two abutting edges (12) lying against one another from a metal strip (16) printed with paint at least on one side, by means of roll-forming,

    b) creating a longitudinal weld seam (7) by welding the two abutting edges (12) to one another,

    c) introducing profilings into the welded endless hollow profile (17) to create the hollow transom profile (6),
    characterized by

    d) removing, in particular scraping off, the longitudinal weld seam (7) on the outside to create a smooth weld seam outer surface (7a),

    e) coating the profile outer surface (6b) in the region of the weld seam outer surface (7a), and preferably regions adjacent thereto, with paint in strip form by means of printing the paint on such that there is an uninterrupted layer of paint on the entire profile outer surface (6b) and the entire profile outer surface (6b) is printed with paint.
13. Method according to Claim 12,
    characterized in that
    an endless hollow profile (17) with a flat-oval, elliptical cross section is created.
14. Method according to Claim 12 and/or 13,
    characterized in that
    the longitudinal weld seam (7) is scraped off by means of a drawing cut.
15. Method according to one or more of Claims 12 to 14,
    characterized in that
    the endless hollow profile (17) is profiled in such a way that the longitudinal weld seam (7) and the regions of the profile outer surface (6b) that are adjacent thereto and are to be printed with paint are planar.
16. Method according to one or more of Claims 12 to 15,
    characterized in that
    the longitudinal weld seam (7) is removed from the endless tube (17) before the profiling.
17. Method according to one or more of Claims 12 to 16,
    characterized in that
    the paint is applied to the hollow transom profile (6) after the profiling.
18. Method according to one or more of Claims 12 to 17,
    characterized in that
    the longitudinal weld seam (7) is removed in such a way that the longitudinal weld seam (7) no longer projects outwards beyond the profile wall (6a).
19. Method according to one or more of Claims 12 to 18,
    characterized in that
    the metal strip (16) is formed into a longitudinally slit endless hollow profile (17) in such a way that the side of the metal strip (16) that is coated with paint forms the profile outer surface (6b).
20. Method according to one or more of Claims 12 to 19,
    characterized in that
    an endless hollow profile (17) is created, having a main axis (19) and a secondary axis (20) perpendicular thereto, and having two main apexes (21), opposing one another in the direction of the main axis (19), and two secondary apexes (22), opposing one another in the direction of the secondary axis (20), wherein
    expediently an endless hollow profile (17) is created, the profile wall (6a) of which is formed in a rounded manner in the region of both apexes (21; 22), but at least in the region of one, with preference both, of the main apexes (21), preferably an endless hollow profile (17) in which the longitudinal weld seam (7) is arranged at one of the two main apexes (21) being created.
21. Method according to one or more of Claims 12 to 20,
    characterized in that
    a weld-seam removal device (23) according to one or more of Claims 6 to 9 is used for the removal, wherein expediently a blade (25) is always in
    scraping-off engagement with the endless hollow profile (17) and, as it passes the blade (25), the endless hollow profile (17) performs a relative movement with respect to the blade (25) in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis (11) of the endless hollow profile (17), and the blade (25) at the same time performs a relative movement with respect to the endless hollow profile (17) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (11), in particular on account of the oscillating rotational movement about the axis of rotation (27), the blades (25) or the blade holder (24) expediently oscillating by an oscillating angle of 5 to 25°, with preference 10 to 15°.
22. Method according to Claim 21,
    characterized in that
    the blades (25) or the blade holder (24) perform or performs 5 to 60, with preference 20 to 40, movements back and forth per minute.
23. Method according to one or more of Claims 20 to 22,
    characterized in that
    the endless hollow profile (17) is profiled in such a way that the two main apexes (21) are flattened to form the end walls (9) and expediently the two secondary apexes (22) are flattened to form the side walls (8).
24. Method according to one or more of Claims 20 to 23,
    characterized in that
    the endless hollow profile (17) is profiled in such a way that the hollow transom profile (6) has a straight end wall (9) and the longitudinal weld seam (7) is arranged in the region of the end wall (9).
25. Method according to one or more of Claims 12 to 24,
    characterized in that
    a paint application device (31) according to Claim 10 or 11 is used for applying the paint to the hollow transom profile (6), wherein preferably
    the paint is printed onto the weld seam outer surface (7a), and preferably the profile outer surface (6b) adjacent thereto, by means of the application roller (36), wherein expediently
    the application roller (36) rolls on the weld seam outer surface (7a), and preferably the profile outer surface (6b) adjacent thereto, while exerting pressure thereupon.

Images