WO2021008807A1

WO2021008807A1 - Method and device for bending glass sheets

Info

Publication number: WO2021008807A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/066973
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arthur PALMANTIER; Achim ZEICHNER; Jack PENNERS
Original assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
Priority date: 2019-07-17
Filing date: 2020-06-18
Publication date: 2021-01-21
Also published as: DE202020005546U1; CN114269698A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for bending glass sheets (52), in which, in a bending chamber (2), a glass sheet (52) is fastened to a contact surface (15, 15') of a first tool (7) and placed on a pressing frame (8, 21) by the first tool (7), the contact surface facing downwards when in operation, wherein: before the glass sheet (52) is fastened, the first tool (7) is inserted into a tool carrier module (5) that is connected or can be connected to the bending chamber (2) and there the glass sheet is carried to the contact surface by means of a fluid flow and held securely, the first tool, having the glass sheet fastened thereto, is transported further into the bending chamber and there the glass sheet is placed on the pressing frame; and the first tool is removed from the bending chamber (2) after the glass sheet (52) has been placed onto the pressing frame (8, 21).

Description

Method and device for bending discs

The invention lies in the technical field of manufacturing disks and relates to a method and a device for bending disks.

In the industrial series production of glass panes, various bending processes are used, which have often found their way into the patent literature.

For example, WO 2012/080072 describes a method with a step-by-step bending of glass panes in the edge and inner area. Here, the glass pane is first moved into an oven on a pre-bending ring, the edge of the pane being pre-bent, followed by further bending of the edge of the pane by a first suction device, placing and bending of the glass pane in the surface on an end bending ring and final bending to the desired end geometry using a second suction device.

In WO 2004/087590 and WO 2006072721 a method is described in which the glass pane is first pre-bent on a bending frame by gravity, followed by press bending using an upper or lower tool.

In EP 255422 and US 5906668, the bending of a glass pane by suction against an upper tool is described.

EP 1550639 A1, US 2009/084138 A1 and EP 2233444 A1 can each be taken from a device in which a press frame can be transported between bending stations on a carriage that is slidably mounted on a stationary carrier.

DE4020708A1 and EP1937606A2 disclose methods in which a pane of glass is picked up with a first tool with a downwardly directed contact surface and is transferred to a press frame in order to be subsequently pressed between the press frame and a second tool. The glass pane is picked up and pressed separately, the first tool can be moved horizontally.

In addition, we refer to the applicant's unpublished international application PCT / EP2019 / 079321. In general, there is a need for relatively compact systems for bending glass panes, it being possible to manufacture the glass panes with relatively short cycle times and low production costs. In addition, it should be possible to produce complex curved panes with very high quality requirements, which, with a view to reducing optical errors, can usually only be achieved by multi-stage pane bending and requires the use of several tools. The provision of such systems for bending glass panes is complex and costly, so it would be desirable to be able to continue using existing systems. In addition, it should be possible to adapt the systems quickly and cost-effectively to changed requirements for the bending process. There is also the task of providing a corresponding method and a suitable plant with high productivity.

These and other objects are achieved according to the proposal of the invention by a method and a device for bending glass panes having the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

The term “pane” generally relates to a pane of glass, in particular a thermally toughened soda-lime glass.

The term “pre-bending” relates to an incomplete bending of the disk with respect to a defined or definable end bend (final geometry or final shape) of the disk. The pre-bend can for example make up 10% to 80% of the final bend. When used as "edge pre-bending", the term refers to the incomplete bending of the pane in a terminal edge area of the pane adjoining a pane edge, typically a strip-shaped peripheral edge area adjoining the pane edges. For example, the strip width is in the range from 3 mm to 150 mm. The disc edges are each formed by an end face which is typically perpendicular to the two opposing main disc faces. When used as “surface pre-bending”, the term refers to the incomplete bending of the pane in a central or inner area of the pane which is surrounded by the edge area and directly adjoins the edge area. In contrast, the term "final bend" refers to the complete bending of the disc. When used as "edge end bend" the term refers to the complete bend in the edge area of the pane, when used as "surface end bend" to the complete bend in the inner area of the pane. The device according to the invention for bending panes comprises a bending chamber for bending heated panes, which is advantageously equipped with a heating device for heating panes. In particular, for this purpose the bending chamber can be brought to a temperature that enables the plastic deformation of panes and is typically in the range from 600 ° C to 800 ° C. The bending chamber has a bending chamber cavity which is completely enclosed by a preferably insulated wall. The bending chamber cavity has at least one opening into the bending chamber cavity, which opening can preferably be closed by a bending chamber door.

In the bending chamber at least one stationary (stationary) tool with a contact surface for fixing a disc is arranged. As used here and below, the term “stationary tool” refers to a tool that is neither inserted into the bending chamber nor removed from the bending chamber, but rather during at least the time that the same disc is in the bending chamber remains permanently (uninterrupted) in the bending chamber. Typically, the stationary tool remains permanently in the bending chamber, at least during the period from the provision of a pane to be processed in the bending chamber until the pane is transported on a frame-shaped carrier (prestressing frame) from the bending chamber to a cooling device (located outside the bending chamber). The stationary tool can be moved within the bending chamber. Before given, but not mandatory, the bending chamber comprises only a single stationary tool.

In addition to the stationary tool, which remains permanently in the bending chamber during the processing of a disc in the bending chamber, the device for bending discs comprises at least one transportable tool with a contact surface for fixing a disc. As used here and below, the term "portable tool" refers to a tool that is not permanently located in the bending chamber but is temporarily outside of the bending chamber for the time that the same disc is in the bending chamber and inserted into and / or removed from the bending chamber. The transportable tool is preferably immovably attached to a movable tool carrier. The tool carrier is arranged in relation to the bending chamber in such a way that the transportable tool can be introduced into the bending chamber and removed from the bending chamber by moving the tool carrier. The tools are each used for machining panes, each tool having a contact surface which generally serves to fix a pane and, if necessary, to press the pane in cooperation with a frame-shaped (pane) carrier, hereinafter referred to as "frame". The term "fixing" denotes the fixing of a disk on the contact surface of a tool, the disk being pressed against the contact surface and / or being attracted, in particular sucked, by the contact surface. Typically, the contact surface of a tool is designed in such a way that a disc can achieve a desired bend in a bending process comprising several stages (bending processes). The contact surface has an outer surface section and an inner surface section or is composed of the outer and inner surface section. The outer surface section of the contact surface is preferably designed to be suitable for an edge end bend in an edge region of the pane. The inner surface section is preferably formed in a suitable manner for a surface pre-bending or surface end bending in a central or inner region of the pane surrounded by the edge region. The phrase "suitably designed" is to be understood in connection with the outer surface section of the contact surface in such a way that the outer surface section is shaped in such a way that an edge end bend of the pane can be produced by bearing against the outer surface section or by pressing a pane. However, the pane does not necessarily have to be subjected to an edge end bending; only an edge pre-bending can also take place. In this case, the edge end bend is only produced in the further course of the process. For this purpose, the outer surface section does not necessarily have to have a shape that is complementary to the shape of a disc bent at the edge. In connection with the inner surface section of the contact surface, “suitably designed” means that the inner surface section is shaped, for example, so that a surface pre-bending of the pane can be produced by abutment against the inner surface section or by pressing, with surface pre-bending not necessarily being performed got to. If the inner surface section is designed to be suitable for a surface end bend, this means that a surface end bend can be produced, but does not necessarily have to be produced. The end of the surface bend can also only be generated in the further course of the process. The fixing of a pane on the contact surface can, but does not have to be, be associated with a bending process of the pane. The contact surface of a tool is oriented downwards in the working position. The at least one tool carrier is preferably attached to a module which is arranged outside the bending chamber and which is hereinafter referred to as the “tool carrier module” for easier reference and differentiation from the “press frame module” mentioned below. The tool carrier module forms a structural unit and is preferably, but not necessarily, movable relative to the bending chamber, so that it can be moved to the bending chamber and spatially removed from the bending chamber. For this purpose, the tool carrier module can have an actively or passively drivable movement mechanism for moving the tool carrier module relative to the bending chamber, for example a roller transport mechanism or an air cushion transport mechanism.

The tool carrier module preferably comprises a heatable cavity, hereinafter referred to as “tool carrier module cavity”, which is at least partially, in particular completely, delimited by a preferably insulated wall. The tool carrier module cavity has at least one opening which can preferably be closed by a door or flap. If the tool carrier module is delivered to the bending chamber, the tool carrier module cavity can be spatially connected to the bending chamber cavity, the tool carrier module cavity having at least one first opening which can be brought into a position opposite to a second opening of the bending chamber cavity of the bending chamber, so that a preferably aligned connection of Werkzeugträ germodulhohlraum and bending chamber cavity can be produced. Preferably, the first opening of the tool carrier module cavity and / or the second opening of the bending chamber cavity are each provided with a door through which the associated opening can be closed. The spatial connectivity of the tool holder module cavity and the bending chamber cavity is essential.

The tool carrier module cavity serves to accommodate the transportable tool fastened to the tool carrier, in particular to heat the transportable tool to a temperature suitable for the processing of discs before it is introduced into the bending chamber. According to the invention it is also provided that in the tool carrier module cavity the pane to be machined (or a next pane when machining a previous pane in the bending chamber) is transported to the transportable tool and fixed to it. So not only the tool itself, but also the disc attached to it is heated, and a certain amount of pre-processing (bending before) can take place in this part of the device. In this way, the processing of panes in the bending chamber can be carried out very quickly without a time-consuming process It would be necessary to heat the transportable tool and the disc within the bending chamber.

The tool carrier module is delivered or deliverable to the bending chamber so that the transportable tool can be moved into and out of the bending chamber by moving the tool carrier, this movement preferably comprising at least one horizontal movement component. The tool carrier is preferably moved reciprocally and translationally (i.e. 1-dimensional) in a horizontal plane in order to move the transportable tool into and out of the bending chamber. The tool carrier is preferably also movable in the vertical direction, in particular in order to move the transportable tool in the vertical direction within the bending chamber. For this purpose, the tool carrier is coupled with a movement mechanism. If a heatable tool carrier module cavity is provided, it is particularly advantageous if the tool carrier movement mechanism is at least partially, in particular completely, arranged outside the heatable tool carrier module cavity. As a result, undesired heating of components of the tool carrier movement mechanism and associated thermally induced Längenän changes can be avoided in an advantageous manner. This makes a significant contribution to positioning the tool carrier and in particular the transportable tool attached to it with a particularly high level of accuracy and high speed within the bending chamber, so that complex shaped disks with particularly high quality requirements can be produced. The tool carrier can preferably be actively cooled by a cooling device, as a result of which the positioning accuracy of the transportable tool can be further improved.

The tool carrier module is a self-sufficient structural unit that enables simple assembly with a tool and quick replacement of the tool inde pendent of the bending chamber, in particular because of the possibility of moving the tool carrier to the outside. If the tool carrier module is movable, the tool carrier module can be easily delivered to the bending chamber and removed again. This also creates free access to the bending chamber in an advantageous manner in order to carry out maintenance work or adjustments for a specific bending process.

According to one embodiment, the device for bending panes comprises a press frame (eg press ring) with a press surface for pressing a pane. Preferably the pressing surface of the pressing frame is designed to be complementary to the outer surface section of the stationary and / or transportable tool that is suitably formed for edge end bending. The pressing surface is designed, for example, in the form of a strip, for example with a strip width in the range from 3 to 150 mm. The pressing surface of the pressing frame is oriented upwards for contact with a pane. A larger width of the strip-shaped pressing surface is advantageous due to a better weight distribution in view of avoiding undesired markings (changes in the flat surfaces of the disc), whereby the creation of markings can be counteracted by pressing the disc in the edge area on the press frame . The press surface of the press frame has a defined geometry, the press frame being sufficiently rigid for this purpose. The press frame is designed, for example, as a cast part, with the press surface being produced, for example, by milling.

The press frame is preferably designed to be suitable for a surface prebending by gravity in the inner area of the pane, with the inner area of the pane being able to sag downwards due to gravity. With gravity bending, the disc is pre-bent by its own weight. For this purpose, the press frame can be open, i.e. it can be provided with a central opening, or it can be concave over the entire surface, as long as the inner area of the pane can sag. An open design is preferred with a view to simpler processing of wafers. By previously pressing the edge of the pane against the pressing surface of the press frame, the surface pre-bending of the pane during storage on the press frame can be reduced.

In the device according to the invention for bending discs, the tools and the press frame can each be moved in a vertical direction relative to one another, so that a disc can be pressed between the contact surface of a respective tool and the press surface of the press frame. As a result, the disc is pre-bent or end-bent in the edge area. Before geous the stationary tool is coupled to a movement mechanism through which the tool can be delivered to the stationary press frame in order to press a disc. Preferably, the transportable tool can be delivered to the stationary press frame by moving the tool carrier in the vertical direction downwards in order to press a pane. By bending a pane in several steps in the edge and inner area, complex shaped panes with particularly high Goodness. In this respect, the particularly precise positioning of the pane by means of pressing on the press frame and, if necessary, an unchanged position of the press frame when a pane is on top is very advantageous.

The tools are each assigned a means for setting a disc on the respective contact surface. The means for fixing a pane on the contact surface preferably comprises a pneumatic suction device for sucking in a gaseous fluid, in particular air, through which the pane can be drawn against the contact surface by means of negative pressure. For this purpose, the contact surface can be provided, for example, with at least one suction hole, advantageously with a plurality of suction holes, for example evenly distributed over the contact surface, at each of which a negative pressure can be applied for a suction effect on the contact surface. As an alternative or in addition, the suction device can have an apron which borders the contact surface and by means of which a negative pressure can be generated on the contact surface. The suction device generates a typically upwardly directed flow of a gaseous fluid, in particular air, which is sufficient to hold the pane firmly on the contact surface.

A means for removing a disk fixed on the respective contact surface is preferably assigned to each of the tools. This is advantageously a pneumatic blowing device for ejecting a gaseous fluid, in particular air, by means of which the pane can be removed from the contact surface by means of excess pressure. For this purpose, the contact surface can, for example, be provided with at least one blow hole, advantageously with a plurality of blow holes, for example evenly distributed over the contact surface. The blower generates a typically downward directed flow of a gaseous fluid, in particular air, through which the disc can be removed from the contact surface. This enables the pane to be reliably placed on a frame without the risk of the pane sticking to the contact surface in an undesirable manner. The suction and blowing devices assigned to the tools can be combined to form a suction / blowing device, with holes on the contact surface optionally being able to be subjected to negative or positive pressure. If a heatable tool carrier module cavity is provided to accommodate the transportable tool, it can be advantageous if the means for generating negative or positive pressure of the suction and / or blowing device associated with the transportable tool is arranged outside the heatable tool carrier module cavity . According to one embodiment, the device according to the invention for bending disks has a preheating zone with a heating device for heating disks to a bending temperature, as well as a transport mechanism, in particular of the roller conveyor bed type, for transporting disks from the preheating zone into the tool carrier module cavity, in particular to a removal position, which is preferably located in the vertical direction directly below the stationary tool. The roller conveyor bed is advantageously designed so that individual slices can be transported to the removal position one after the other. The removal position can in particular correspond to an end section of the roller conveyor bed.

The preheating zone and the tool carrier module are preferably connected or connectable to the bending chamber opposite one another. The roller conveyor bed preferably extends from the preheating zone through the bending chamber into the tool carrier module. In this way, the pane can be heated up in the preheating zone and then transported through the bending chamber into the tool carrier module, where it is attached to the first tool. This enables a compact and space-saving design of the bending device.

Furthermore, the device for bending disks further comprises a pneumatic blowing device for generating a gaseous fluid flow, in particular an air flow, which is designed such that a disk is blown from below by the gaseous fluid flow, thereby raised and pressed against the contact surface of a tool can be. The blowing device can in particular be designed in such a way that the pane fixed on the contact surface can be bent forward by the pressure exerted by the gaseous fluid flow in the edge area and / or in the inner area, advantageously at least in the edge area. In the proposed construction, the blowing device is arranged near the bottom of the tool carrier module below the above-mentioned roller bed in order to lift the disc delivered thereon from the roller conveyor bed and to deliver it to the contact surface of the transportable tool located there in this process phase. For this purpose, the blower device and the roller conveyor bed are designed in such a way that the fluid flow (air flow) generated by the blower device flows through the rollers of the roller conveyor bed. According to one embodiment, the inventive device for bending panes has a thermal preloading zone with a cooling device for thermal preloading of a pane, and a preloading frame (eg preloading ring) for transporting a pane from the bending chamber to the preloading zone. The prestressing frame is preferably movable with at least one horizontal movement component. Advantageously, the pre-tensioning frame can be moved reciprocally and translationally (1-dimensional) in a horizontal plane. The thermal prestressing (tempering) deliberately creates a temperature difference between a surface zone and the core zone of the pane in order to increase the breaking strength of the pane. The pretensioning of the pane is advantageously generated by means of a device for blowing a gaseous fluid, preferably air, onto the pane. Preferably, the two surfaces of a disc are acted upon simultaneously with a cooling air stream. The prestressing frame is coupled to a prestressing frame movement mechanism by which the prestressing frame can be moved in a reciprocal manner. The prestressing frame moving mechanism is preferably not coupled to a moving mechanism for the press frame.

A single pane can be transported on the press frame and the prestressing frame. It goes without saying that a pane can lie on the press frame and another pane on the prestressing frame at the same time. Advantageously, the prestressing frame for transporting a pane from the bending chamber to the prestressing zone has a frame surface that is suitably designed for the edge end bending in the edge region of the pane. In addition, it is advantageous if the prestressing frame is designed to be suitable for surface end bending by gravity in the inner region of the pane. While a pane is being transported on the prestressing frame, edge end bending and surface end bending can occur by gravity.

According to one embodiment, the device according to the invention for bending panes has a further module which is referred to as a “press frame module” for easier reference and differentiation from the above-mentioned tool carrier module. The press frame module forms a structural unit and is preferably, but not necessarily, movable relative to the bending chamber, so that the press frame module can be delivered to the bending chamber or removed from the bending chamber. For this purpose, the press frame module preferably has an actively or passively drivable movement mechanism for moving the press frame module relative to the bending chamber, for example a roller transport mechanism or an air cushion transport mechanism. Preferably that has Press frame module has a cavity, hereinafter referred to as "press frame module cavity", which is completely enclosed by a preferably insulated wall. The press frame module cavity is separated from the external environment by the wall.

The press frame module has a movable press frame support with a preferably immovable press frame for supporting storage and pressing of a pane. The press frame is preferably arranged in the press frame module cavity or can be arranged (completely) in the press frame module cavity. The press frame carrier can be moved relative to the bending chamber. The press frame module is delivered or can be advanced to the bending chamber in such a way that the press frame support with the press frame (from a position outside the bending chamber) can be introduced into the bending chamber. The press frame module cavity has at least one first opening which can be brought into an opposite position position with a second opening of the bending chamber cavity of the bending chamber, so that a preferably aligned connection of the press frame module cavity and bending chamber cavity can be established. Preferably, the first opening of the press frame module cavity and / or the second opening of the bending chamber cavity are each provided with a door through which the associated opening can be closed. The spatial connectivity of the press frame module cavity and the bending chamber cavity is essential, in particular by opening at least one door between the press frame module cavity and the bending chamber cavity.

The pressing frame can advantageously be moved reciprocally and translationally (i.e. 1-dimensional) in a horizontal plane. The press frame support is coupled to its movement with a movement mechanism. Very precise positioning of the press frame is required to meet very high quality requirements for the panes produced, which typically requires an accuracy of less than 1 mm, typically at least about 0.5 mm. In order to avoid errors due to thermal expansion in the hot bending chamber, a movement mechanism for the press frame support is advantageously arranged outside the bending chamber in a non-heated area of the press frame module. In addition, this enables the press frame support to be positioned particularly quickly, which is a further important advantage, since this reduces cycle times.

The press frame module is a self-sufficient structural unit that enables the press frame module to be fitted with the press frame independently of the bending chamber. In particular, the fact that the press frame carrier can be moved outwards enables the press frame module to be fitted quickly and easily. If the press frame module is movable, the press frame module can be fed to the bending chamber and removed again. In particular, this creates free access to the bending chamber in order to carry out maintenance work or adjustments for a specific bending process.

The following is a description of the method according to the invention for bending panes, for which independent protection is claimed. The above-described device according to the invention for bending disks is preferably used to carry out the method according to the invention, so that the above statements on the device according to the invention apply analogously to the method according to the invention.

In the method according to the invention for bending disks, a disk is set in a Werkzeugträ germodul on the contact surface of a tool and the tool is later stored in a bending chamber on a press frame. It is essential here that the tool is inserted into the tool carrier module before the disk is fixed on the tool and removed from the bending chamber after the disk has been placed on the press frame.

According to a preferred embodiment, the method for bending panes comprises the steps listed below, which are advantageously, but not necessarily, carried out in the specified order. In particular, a step can also only be carried out after a step mentioned later in the following list, provided this is possible and sensible in terms of the method.

The method comprises a step in which a pane, preferably heated to the bending temperature, is provided in the tool carrier module. For this purpose, the disk is advantageously moved with at least one horizontal movement component, in particular in a horizontal plane.

The method comprises a further step in which the disk is fixed within the tool carrier module on a contact surface of a first tool. According to the invention, the pane is fixed on the contact surface in that the pane is raised by blowing a gaseous fluid on it and is pressed against the contact surface. In addition, the disk is preferably fixed by suction on the contact surface. Advantageously, the disk is already subjected to an edge pre-bending in the edge region and / or a surface pre-bending in the inner region of the disk within the tool carrier module cavity on the contact surface of the first tool. For this purpose, the first tool is preferably lowered onto the disk, for example by moving in the vertical direction, and after the disk has been fixed on the contact surface again raised, for example by moving in the vertical direction. Since it does not take place within the bending chamber, this can take place parallel to processing steps that are carried out in the bending chamber on a previous pane (see below), which results in a temporally overlapping processing of two panes and thus a significant shortening of the Cycle time and increase productivity. In a preferred embodiment, a disk is fixed to the first tool in the tool carrier module, while another disk is located in the bending chamber and is fixed there on the contact surface of the second tool or is pressed between the second tool and the press frame.

The method comprises a further step in which a press frame for the disc is positioned within the bending chamber, preferably while the disc is fixed on the contact surface of the first tool. The press frame is preferably introduced into the bending chamber from outside the bending chamber. For this purpose, the press frame is advantageously moved with a horizontal movement component, in particular in a hori zontal plane.

The method includes a further step in which the pane is placed on the press frame. During storage on the press frame, there is preferably a (passive) surface pre-bending in an inner area of the pane surrounded by the edge area by the weight of the pane itself. The placing of the disc on the press frame is supported before geous by blowing a gaseous fluid.

Optionally, the method can include a further step, in which the pane is pressed between the contact surface of the first tool and the press frame before it is placed on the press frame (first pressing of the pane). In this case, an edge pre-bending or edge end bending takes place in an edge region of the pane. For this purpose, the first tool with the pane fixed on the contact surface is preferably lowered onto the stationary press frame, for example in the vertical direction, so that the pane fixed on the contact surface has physical contact with the press frame. To the To then place the pane on the press frame, it is sufficient if the fixing connection between the contact surface of the first tool and the pane is released and the first tool is removed from the press frame. The pane is already in contact with the press frame when it is pressed. Unwanted adhesion to the contact surface can be avoided by blowing a gaseous fluid on.

The method comprises a further step in which the pane resting on the press frame is pressed between a second tool and the press frame (second pressing of the pane), with an edge pre-bending or edge end bending in the edge area of the pane. For this purpose, the second tool is advantageously lowered onto the pane resting on the resting press frame, for example in a vertical direction, so that the contact surface of the second tool has physical contact with the pane.

The method comprises a further step in which the disk is fixed on the contact surface of the second tool between the contact surface of the second tool and the press frame after the second pressing. Here, for example, a surface pre-bending or a surface end bending in the inner area and an edge pre-bending or edge end bending in the edge area of the pane can take place. The disk is advantageously secured to the contact surface of the second tool by suction. Preferably, the second tool with the disk fixed on the contact surface is removed from the press frame. The press frame is advantageously removed from the bending chamber as soon as the pane is fixed on the contact surface of the second tool (i.e. no longer rests on the press frame) and the second tool is removed from the press frame.

The method includes a further step in which a prestressing frame is positioned in the bending chamber. The prestressing frame is preferably moved in a translatory (1-dimensional) manner in a horizontal plane.

The method includes a further step in which the second tool places the pane on the prestressing frame. For this purpose, the second tool with the disk fixed on the contact surface is advantageously lowered onto the prestressing frame, for example in a vertical direction. The method comprises a further step in which the pane is transported on the prestressing frame to a cooling device for thermal prestressing of the pane. For this purpose, the prestressing frame is advantageously moved with a horizontal movement component, in particular in a horizontal plane. Preferably, the leader frame is moved in a translatory (1-dimensional) manner.

It is essential in the method described above that either the first tool is a transportable tool and the second tool is a stationary tool or, alternatively, the second tool is a transportable tool and the first tool is a stationary tool within the meaning of the invention. The transportable tool is particularly advantageously attached to a tool carrier that can be inserted into the bending chamber by a tool carrier module and is introduced into the bending chamber and removed from the bending chamber by moving the tool carrier. It is particularly advantageous if the transportable tool is heated before being introduced into the bending chamber (to a temperature suitable for bending panes, in particular to a temperature which prevails in the bending chamber).

Accordingly, according to the first alternative, the first tool is introduced into the bending chamber from outside the bending chamber before the pane is fixed on its contact surface and is removed from the bending chamber after the pane has been placed on the press frame. Here, the second tool is permanently arranged in the bending chamber for at least a period from the provision of the disc in the bending chamber to the transport of the disc on the prestressing frame. According to the second alternative, the second tool is inserted into the bending chamber after placing the disc on the press frame from outside the bending chamber and removed from the bending chamber after placing the disc on the front clamping frame. In this case, the first tool is permanently arranged in the bending chamber for at least a period from the provision of the pane in the bending chamber to the transport of the pane on the prestressing frame.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the press frame is inserted into the bending chamber before the disc is placed on the press frame (from a position outside the bending chamber) and removed from the bending chamber after the disc has been fixed to the contact surface of the second tool. It is particularly advantageous if the press frame is attached to a press frame carrier which can be inserted into the bending chamber by a press frame module and is inserted into the press frame carrier by moving the press frame carrier Bending chamber inserted and removed from the bending chamber. Preferably, the press frame and / or the press frame support is supported downwards when a pane can rest.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the press frame is not moved with the disc resting on it. This enables particularly high quality requirements to be met by the

Disc are met, since there is no risk that the position of the disc relative to the press frame changed in an undesirable manner by a movement of the press frame. In particular, by pressing the pane onto the press frame, the pane can be positioned very precisely relative to the press frame.

It is particularly advantageous that the disk does not have any movement with a horizontal movement component while it is attached to a tool, i.e. it is only moved in the vertical direction. This further improves the exact positioning of the disc. The press frame and the transportable tool can be positioned very precisely in the bending chamber, especially if the movement mechanism for moving the press frame carrier and / or the movement mechanism for moving the tool carrier is arranged outside the heated area of the associated module.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, passive edge pre-bending by own weight or active edge pre-bending by pressing in the edge area of the window takes place by placing the disc on the press frame and optionally by pressing the disc between the first tool and the press frame. Subsequently, the (possibly a second) pressing of the pane between the second tool and the press frame results in a further pre-bending of the edge in the edge area of the pane. Finally, an edge end bending takes place in the edge region of the pane during the transport of the pane on the prestressing frame.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, passive edge pre-bending by own weight or active edge pre-bending by pressing in the edge area of the window takes place by placing the disc on the press frame and optionally by pressing the disc between the first tool and the press frame. Subsequently, the (possibly a second) pressing of the pane between the second tool and the press frame results in an edge end bending in the edge region of the pane. In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, an (active) edge end bending occurs in the edge region of the window by pressing the pane between the first tool and the press frame.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, during the storage of the pane on the press frame, (passive) surface pre-bending takes place in an inner area of the pane surrounded by an edge area by gravity or the pane's own weight.

The bending of the disk by means of the second tool can give the disk a final or quasi-final shape. Typically, but not necessarily, the shape of the pane on the prestressing frame will change (usually slightly), for which purpose the prestressing frame preferably has a frame surface that is designed to be suitable for edge bending. In addition, the prestressing frame is designed to be suitable for surface bending by gravity. The pane thus receives its final shape on the prestressing frame. Accordingly, according to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, during transport or storage of the pane on the prestressing frame, surface end bending occurs in an inner area of the pane surrounded by an edge area by gravity.

Furthermore, the invention extends to the use of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention for producing windows for means of transport for traffic in the country, in the air or on water, in particular in motor vehicles, and in particular for rear windows in motor vehicles.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the following steps:

- Providing a disc in the tool carrier module,

- fixing the disc on the contact surface of the first tool,

- Bringing the first tool with the disc attached to it into the bending chamber,

- Positioning the press frame in the bending chamber,

- placing the pane on the press frame,

- pressing the pane between a contact surface of a second tool and the press frame,

- fixing the disc on the contact surface of the second tool,

- Positioning a prestressing frame in the bending chamber, - placing the pane on the prestressing frame,

- Transporting the pane on the prestressing frame to a cooling device for thermal prestressing of the pane,

in which

i) the first tool is introduced into the tool carrier module before the disk is fixed on its contact surface and removed from the bending chamber after the disk has been placed on the press frame, or

ii) the second tool is introduced into the bending chamber before fixing the disc at its contact surface and is removed from the bending chamber after the disc is placed on the prestressing frame.

The device preferably comprises:

a pneumatic suction / blowing device assigned to the tools for securing a pane on the contact surface by suction and / or for removing a pane fixed on the contact surface by blowing, and / or

- A pneumatic blowing device for lifting and pressing a pane against the contact surface of a tool by blowing it against it.

The various embodiments of the invention can be implemented individually or in any combination. In particular, the features mentioned above and to be explained below can be used not only in the specified combinations but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments, reference being made to the accompanying figures. It shows in a simplified, not to scale representation:

Fig. 1 Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment

design of the device according to the invention for bending discs in plan view;

2-3 different sectional views of the device of FIG. 1 according to

Section plane AA; FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the device from FIG. 1 according to section

plane B-B;

5-22 different sectional views of the device of FIG. 1 according to

Section plane B-B to illustrate the method according to the invention;

First of all, FIGS. 1 to 4 are considered. FIG. 1 shows, on the basis of a schematic representation in a top view, essential components of an exemplary embodiment of the device for bending disks, denoted overall by the reference number 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a sectional view of the device 1 according to section plane A-A, and FIG. 4 shows a sectional view according to section plane B-B.

As shown in Figure 1, the device 1 comprises a bending chamber 2 for bending (glass) panes 52, a preheating zone 3 arranged to the side of the bending chamber 2 with a (preheating zone) heating device 33 (not shown in Figure 1) for heating the panes to the bending temperature, and a prestressing zone 4, likewise arranged to the side of the bending chamber 2, for cooling or prestressing (tempering) bent panes. The preheating zone 3 and the prestressing zone 4 are arranged in a plan view from above at an angle of 90 ° on the bending chamber 2 and functionally coupled to it, the preheating zone 3 and the prestressing zone 4 being designed as spatially separate areas of the device 1.

In contrast to the preheating zone 3, a modular feed chamber for a transportable tool 7, hereinafter referred to as a 'tool carrier module 5', is arranged on the bending chamber 2. Opposite to the prestressing zone 4 is a modular feed chamber for a press frame 8 (in FIG not shown), hereinafter referred to as "press frame module 6", arranged on the bending chamber 2. The preheating zone 3, the prestressing zone 4, the tool carrier module 5 and the press frame module 6 are arranged on four sides of the bending chamber 2 and functionally coupled to the bending chamber 2 .

In FIG. 1, the tool carrier module 5 is shown in two spatially different positions. In a first position, the tool carrier module 5 is arranged on the bending chamber 2 and functionally coupled to it. In a second position (in Figure 1 to the right of the first Position) the tool carrier module 5 is spatially separated from the bending chamber 2 and not functionally coupled to the bending chamber 2. The press frame module 6 can be brought into a spatially separated position from the bending chamber 2 in a manner analogous to the tool carrier module 5, which is not shown in FIG. In other embodiments, the tool carrier module 5 and / or the press frame module 6 is permanently connected to the bending chamber 2 and is not transportable.

In FIG. 2 (section plane A-A of FIG. 1) the bending chamber 2, the press frame module 6 and the prestressing zone 4, which are arranged opposite one another on the bending chamber 2, are shown in more detail. Accordingly, the bending chamber 2 comprises an insulating bending chamber wall 9 which delimits a cavity of the bending chamber 2, hereinafter referred to as the bending chamber cavity 10, from the external environment. As a result, the Biegekam can merhohlraum 10 to a temperature suitable for the bending process of the disks (bending temperature) are heated and maintained. For heating the bending chamber cavity 10, the bending chamber 2 has a heating device, which is not shown. In the Biegekam merhohlraum 10 there is a stationary tool 1 1, which remains permanently inside the bending chamber 2 for processing panes, ie during the period while the same pane is being processed in the device 1, it is not introduced into the bending chamber 2 from outside and / or is removed from the bending chamber 2.

The stationary tool 11 has a holder 12 which can be displaced relative to the bending chamber wall 9 at least in the vertical direction by means of a holder movement mechanism 14 (not shown in detail). It is also possible for the holder 12 to be displaceable with at least one horizontal movement component. At the lower end of the holding tion 12, the stationary tool 1 1 is detachably mounted. The stationary tool 11 has a downwardly directed, convex contact surface 15 for the flat contact of a disk 52. If the contact pressure is appropriate, the disk 52 can be bent at the respective contact surface 15. The contact surface 15 has an end or edge outer surface section 16 and an inner surface section 17 with mutually different surface contours (surface shapes), the inner surface section 17 being completely surrounded (bordered) by the outer surface section 16.

The stationary tool 11 comprises a combined suction / blowing device 18 (not shown in more detail) for sucking a disk 52 against the contact surface 15 or removing a disk 52 fixed on the contact surface 15. The contact surface 15 can for this purpose for example, be provided with evenly distributed holes (not shown) and / or an apron at the edge. A washer 52 can be drawn against the contact surface 15 by a negative pressure generated in the holes or edge apron. In a corresponding manner, the disk 52 can be removed from the contact surface 15 if an overpressure is generated in the holes.

The prestressing zone 4 for prestressing curved panes is located on the side of the bending chamber 2. The prestressing zone 4 has two so-called prestressing boxes 20 which are arranged offset from one another in the vertical direction. By means of the two prestressing boxes 20, an air flow for air cooling of a disk 52 located between the two prestressing boxes 20 can be generated in order to prestress the disk 52.

A prestressing frame 21 is provided for the overlying transport of a disk 52 from the bending chamber 2 into the prestressing zone 4, which is located below the stationary tool 11 in FIG. The prestressing frame 21 can be moved between the bending chamber 2 and the prestressing zone 4 (e.g. in a horizontal plane) by a prestressing frame moving mechanism, which is not shown in detail. Preferably, the pre-tensioning frame 21 can translationally back and forth in a horizontal plane between a first pre-tensioning frame position 22, which is located between the two pre-tensioning boxes 20, and a second pre-tensioning frame position 23 within the bending chamber 2, which is located, for example, directly below the stationary tool 11 be moved.

In order to couple the prestressing zone 4 to the bending chamber 2, the bending chamber wall 9 has a first bending chamber opening 24 which opens into the bending chamber cavity 10. The first bending chamber opening 24 can be closed by a first bending chamber door 25, so that the bending chamber cavity 10 can be opened to the outside or closed from the external environment. The prestressing frame 21 can be moved through the opened first bending chamber opening 24 into the bending chamber cavity 10 in order to receive a finished, bent pane 52 and to transport it into the prestressing zone 4. From there, the tempered disk 52 can be removed in a simple manner and processed further.

The device 1 further comprises a movable (mobile) press frame module 6, which is arranged opposite the prestressing zone 4 on the outside of the bending chamber 2. Like the bending chamber 2, the press frame module 6 is designed here, for example, in the form of a closed or closable chamber. The press frame module 6 comprises an insulating press frame module wall 26 which delimits a cavity of the press frame module 6, hereinafter referred to as "press frame module cavity 27", from the external environment. The press frame module cavity 27 is accessible from the outside through at least one press frame module opening 28 opening into the press frame module cavity 27. The press frame module opening 28 can be closed by a press frame module door 29.

As shown in FIG. 2, the press frame module 6 is arranged on the outside of the bending chamber 2, the press frame module opening 28 being in a position opposite a second bending chamber opening 30 of the bending chamber cavity 10. The bending chamber cavity 10 is accessible from the outside through the opening 30 opening into the bending chamber cavity 10. The second bending chamber opening 30 can be closed by a second bending chamber door 31. If the press frame module 6 is arranged on the bending chamber 2, the bending chamber cavity 10 and the press frame module cavity 27 can be spatially connected to one another by opening both the press frame module door 29 and the second bending chamber door 31. On the other hand, by closing the press frame module door 29 and / or the second bending chamber door 31, the press frame module cavity 27 can be spatially separated from the bending chamber cavity 10.

The press frame module 6 is movable relative to the bending chamber 2 and, for this purpose, has an actively or passively drivable press frame module movement mechanism 32 for moving the press frame module 6 (for example roller bearings). By means of the press frame module movement mechanism 32, the press frame module 6 can be fed to the bending chamber 2 or removed from the bending chamber 2.

The press frame module cavity 27 is of an insulating press frame module wall

26 bounded. This allows the press frame module cavity 27 to be heated to a desired temperature and maintained. For example, the press frame module cavity

27 how the bending chamber 2 is heated to a temperature suitable for the bending process of the disks 52 (bending temperature). For heating the press frame module cavity 27, the press frame module 6 has a press frame module heating device 34 which, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, is designed in the form of radiant heaters. The radiant heaters are distributed, for example, in several radiant heater fields. The press frame module 6 also has an elongated press frame support 35 for the press frame 8. The press frame support 35 is movable by a press frame support moving mechanism 36. The press frame support moving mechanism 36 is arranged outside the heatable press frame module cavity 27 (in Figure 2 below the press frame module cavity 27). In the exemplary embodiment shown, the press frame support movement mechanism 36 comprises a pinion chain mechanism equipped with a driven pinion, which is known to a person skilled in the art and does not need to be explained in more detail. In the situation shown in Figure 2, the press frame carrier 35 is completely within the press frame module cavity 27. The press frame module door 29 and the second bending chamber door 31 are each in a closed position. The Pressrah men 8, which is used for pressing and storing a disc 63, is firmly attached to the free end of the press frame carrier 35. For this purpose, the press frame support 35 comprises, for example, two parallel support arms, between which the press frame 8 is attached.

In the device 1 according to the invention, a movement of the press frame 8 takes place within the bending chamber 2 by the press frame carrier 35 fed in from outside the bending chamber 2, the fact that the press frame carrier movement mechanism 36 is arranged outside the heatable press frame module cavity 27 in A very precise positioning of the press frame 8 is particularly advantageous.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, in which the device 1 according to the sectional view AA of FIG. 2 is shown in a different process situation. In order to avoid unnecessary repetitions, only the differences from FIG. 2 are explained and otherwise reference is made to the above statements. In the situation of Figure 3, the pre-tensioning frame 21 is in the first pre-tensioning frame position 22 between the two pre-tensioning boxes 20. The press frame 8 was transported by moving the press frame support 35 from a press frame rest position 37 to a press frame working position 38 within the bending chamber 2 . For this purpose, the free end of the press frame carrier 35 carrying the press frame 8 was introduced into the bending chamber cavity 10 (part of the press frame carrier 35 is still located in the press frame module 6). By heating the press frame module cavity 27 by means of the press frame module heating device 34, the press frame 8 can also be heated quickly outside the bending chamber cavity 10 to a temperature suitable for the bending of panes 52. The bending chamber cavity 10 can particularly advantageously be closed by closing the bending chamber doors 25, 31, for example to remove the press frame module 5 from the bending chamber 2 without that the bending chamber cavity 10 is exposed to the external environment, in particular a greater temperature drop in the bending chamber cavity 10 can be avoided. Correspondingly, another module can be coupled to the bending chamber 2 in a simple manner.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, in which part of the device 1 of FIG. 1 is shown according to the section plane B-B (perpendicular to the section plane A-A). FIG. 4 shows the bending chamber 2, the tool carrier module 5 arranged on the bending chamber 2 and functionally coupled to it, as well as part of the preheating zone 3.As already described in connection with FIG. 2, the bending chamber 2 comprises the bending chamber cavity 10 in which the stationary tool 1 1 is arranged. The stationary tool 11 has a contact surface 15 with an outer surface section 16 and an inner surface section 17.

The preheating zone 3, in which the panes 52 can be heated to a temperature suitable for bending, is arranged on the bending chamber 2 and functionally coupled to it. In the device 1, wafers can be transported successively from the preheating zone 3 into the bending chamber 2 and finally into the prestressing zone 4.

With continued reference to Figure 4, the movable (mobile) tool carrier module 5 is described, which is arranged opposite to the preheating zone 3 on the outside of the bending chamber 2. The tool carrier module 5 comprises a substructure 43 to which a tool carrier 44 is attached. A tool 7 is fixedly attached at the end of the tool carrier 44 and becomes a transportable tool due to the mobility of the tool carrier 44. The tool carrier 44 opens into a tool carrier module cavity 46 which is surrounded by a tool carrier module wall 45 and is open towards the bending chamber 2 and in which the transportable tool 7 is arranged. The bending chamber wall 9 has a fourth bending chamber opening 47 on the side on which the tool carrier module 5 can be advanced. When the tool carrier module 5 is delivered to the bending chamber 2, the tool carrier module cavity 46 opens into the bending chamber cavity 10. Here, the tool carrier module wall 45 has contact with the outside of the bending chamber wall 9. Not shown in FIG. 4, but it would be possible to use the fourth bending chamber opening 47 and / or to provide the tool carrier module cavity 46 each with a door to close separately Ver. The tool carrier module cavity 46 can be heated to a desired temperature. For example, the tool carrier module cavity 46, like the bending chamber 2, is heated and maintained to a temperature (bending temperature) suitable for the bending process of the disks 52 in order to heat the transportable tool 7 to a corresponding temperature. For this purpose, the tool carrier module cavity 46 has a heating device (eg, radiant heater) which is designed, for example, in the form of radiant heaters and which is not shown in FIG. The hot and cold areas are marked in FIG. 4 with "H (ot)" and "C (old)".

The tool carrier module 5 is movable relative to the bending chamber 2 and for this purpose has an actively driven or passively drivable tool carrier module movement mechanism 50 for moving the tool carrier module 5. In the present exemplary embodiment, the tool carrier module movement mechanism 50 comprises a plurality of passively driven wheels 49. By means of the tool carrier module moving mechanism 50, the tool carrier module 5 can be fed to the bending chamber 2 or removed from the bending chamber 2. As already mentioned above, the tool carrier module movement mechanism with the wheels can also be omitted if the tool carrier module is permanently docked to the bending chamber.

To transport the panes from the preheating zone 3 through the bending chamber 2 into the tool carrier module 5, a roller conveyor bed 39 with a plurality of cylindrical rollers is provided for the flat support of panes 52.

The tool carrier module 5 also has a Blaseinrich device 19, not shown, by means of which a flowing gaseous fluid, for example an air stream 19a, can be generated in the vertical direction in order to lift a disk 52 against gravity and in particular ge against the contact surface 15 of the transportable first Tool 7 to press.

The tool carrier module 5 has the elongated tool carrier 44 for the transportable tool 7. The tool carrier 44 can be moved in the vertical direction and with a horizontal movement component by a tool carrier movement mechanism 48, so that the tool 7 attached to the tool carrier 44 is used for processing a respective disc 52 is introduced into the bending chamber 2 and removed from it again who can. The tool carrier movement mechanism 50 is arranged outside the heatable tool carrier module cavity 46, so that in a particularly advantageous manner a very precise positioning of the transportable tool 7 within the bending chamber 2 is made possible. The transportable tool 7 can be moved by moving the tool carrier 44 within the bending chamber 2 with a horizontal movement component and in the vertical direction (in each case 1-dimensional and reciprocal). The transportable tool 7 has a downwardly directed contact surface 15 ', which is composed of an outer surface portion 16' and an inner surface portion 17 '.

The contact surfaces 15, 15 'of the tools 1 1, 7 can have the same or mutually different surface contours. The surface contours are preferably different from one another. For example, the outer surface section 16 'of the contact surface 15' of the transportable tool 7 has a surface contour which is adapted to a desired edge end bend, ie final bend, in a (eg, strip-shaped) edge area 53 of a disk 52 or such a final one Bending in the further processing of the disk 52 is made possible. The end edge region of the disk 52 adjoins a disk (cut) edge arranged perpendicular to the disk (cut) edge arranged on the opposite disk main surfaces. The inner surface section 17 'of the contact surface 15' of the transportable tool 7 has a surface contour which corresponds to a surface pre-bend, i.e. non-final bend, in an inner area 54 of the disk 52 that is completely surrounded by the edge area. The outer surface section 16 of the contact surface 15 of the stationary tool 11 has the same surface contour as the outer surface section 16 'of the contact surface 15' of the transportable tool 7 and has a surface contour that is adapted to the desired edge end bend in the edge area 53 of the disc 52. In contrast to the inner surface section 17 'of the contact surface 15' of the transportable tool 7, the inner surface section 17 of the contact surface 15 of the stationary tool 11 has a surface contour which is connected to a surface end bend, ie a final or quasi-final bend in Inner area 54 of the disk 52 is adapted or this enables further processing.

The transportable tool 7 also has a combined suction / blowing device 18 '(not shown in more detail) for panes, whereby a pane 52 is sucked onto the contact surface 15' and thereby temporarily fixed on the contact surface 15 'or removed from the contact surface 15' can be. An underpressure or overpressure at the contact surface 15 ′ can be generated by a Venturi device 13 based on the Venturi principle, which is located in the cold area of the tool carrier module 5. In the device 1, the press frame 8 is used for a storage and compression of discs ben in cooperation with a tool. For this purpose, the press frame 8 has an edge (e.g. strip-shaped) press surface 51 (see FIGS. 21 A and 21 B) whose surface contour is, for example, complementary to the surface contour of the outer surface sections 16, 16 'of the stationary tool 11 and the transportable tool 7 is. The upwardly facing pressing surface 51 is suitable for pressing a disk 52 resting on it in an edge area 53. The press frame 8 is not formed over the entire surface, but has an internal opening which enables the inner region 54 of a disc 52 placed thereon to be pre-bent by gravity.

In addition to FIG. 4, reference is now made to FIGS. 5 to 20, which show sectional views of the device 1 analogous to FIG. 4, in order to describe an embodiment of the method according to the invention. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, only the differences between the method states shown are described in each case and otherwise reference is made to the above statements.

FIG. 4 shows an initial situation in which the transportable tool 7 is located within the tool carrier module cavity 46 and has been heated to a temperature suitable for processing wafers. For this purpose, the bending chamber cavity 10 and the tool carrier module cavity 46 are heated to the same temperature. The transportable tool 7 can in particular be arranged completely within the tool carrier module cavity 46. The stationary tool 11 is located inside the bending chamber 2. In the preheating zone 3 (not shown) there is a disk 52 which is heated to a temperature suitable for bending.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the device 1 for bending sheets at a somewhat later time than in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, the sheet is in horizontal motion on the roller conveyor bed 39, has arrived in the bending chamber 2, and in FIG. 6 it has arrived in a removal position within the tool carrier module 5. The tool carrier 44 has moved into the tool carrier module 5 in the horizontal direction and has been lowered in the vertical direction with the transportable tool 7 located thereon, so that the transportable tool 7 is now just above the disk 52. No change in the position of the transportable tool 7 in a horizontal direction has been made. The stationary tool 11 is located in the bending chamber 2 and is arranged above and / or to the side of the transportable tool 7. The stationary work tool 11 is preferably moved upward in the bending chamber 2 to such an extent that there is space for the transportable tool 7 in the vertical direction directly below the stationary tool 11.

FIG. 7 shows the device 1 for bending disks at a later point in time than in FIG. 6. The disk 52 is blown on by the fluid flow of a gaseous fluid generated by the blowing device 19, here for example an air flow 19a (symbolically represented by arrows) , raised on their underside in the vertical direction from the removal position in the direction of the transportable tool 7 and finally pressed by the air flow 19a against its contact surface 15 '. For this purpose, the transportable tool 7 has been lowered to such an extent that the disk 52 can be pressed against the contact surface 15 'by the air flow 19a.

FIG. 8 shows the device 1 for bending disks at a later point in time than in FIG. 7. The disk 52 is pressed against the contact surface 15 'by the air flow 19a. In addition, the disk 52 is fixed on the contact surface 15 'by suction using the suction / blowing device 18'. The suction / blowing device 18 'fixes the pane 52 temporarily by means of a vacuum on the contact surface 15'. This is shown symbolically in FIG. 8 by arrows directed upwards.

As a result of the typically incomplete contact against the contact surface 15 ′, only a pre-bending of the disk 52 takes place in the edge area 53. As a rule, the pressure from the air flow 19a is not sufficient to produce an edge end bend in the edge area 53 of the disk 52. On the other hand, the suction effect of the suction / blowing device 18 'essentially only serves to hold the pane 52 on the contact surface 15' until the press frame 8 has moved under the pane 52, and has only a small influence on the bending of the pane 52 this removes bubbles in disk 52. In any case, only one surface pre-bending is possible in the inner region 54 of the disk 52 due to the contact surface 15 '. FIG. 8 shows a situation in which the disk 52 is already fixed on the contact surface 15 '.

FIG. 9 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 8. The air flow 19a coming from below has been stopped. The disc 52 is now only due to the negative pressure generated by the suction / blowing device 18 'on the contact surface 15' fixed. The tool carrier 44 with the transportable tool 7 and the disk 52 fixed thereon was moved upward in the vertical direction.

FIG. 10 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 9. This shows a situation in which the tool carrier 44 of the transportable (first) tool 7 moves from the tool carrier module 5 further into the bending chamber 2, namely was transported under the stationary (second) tool 1 1. In addition, the press frame 8 was moved into the press frame working position 38 in the vertical direction directly below the disk 52 (direction of movement in FIG. 10 into the plane of the drawing). The tool carrier 44 with the transportable tool 7 and the disk 52 fixed thereon is still in an elevated position.

Figure 11 shows the device 1 for bending disks at a later point in time than in FIG. 10. The transportable tool 7 has been brought by lowering the tool carrier 44 in the vertical direction down from the raised position to a lowered position, in which the disk 52 fixed on the contact surface 15 ′ has surface contact with the press frame 8.

FIG. 12 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 1 1. The pane 52 is now placed on the press frame 8. To support this, the pane 52 is opened by means of a suction / Blower 18 'generated flow of a gaseous fluid blown. In this way, undesired sticking of the disk 52 to the contact surface 15 ′ can be avoided. The pressing surface 51 preferably has a complementary shape to the outer surface section 16 'of the contact surface 15'.

Optionally, the disc 52 can be pressed between the contact surface 15 'of the transportable tool 7 and the press frame 8, which is illustrated by arrows pointing downwards. Here, the disk 52 is pressed in the edge area 53 between the outer surface section 16 'of the contact surface 15' and the pressing surface 51 of the press frame 8. On the press frame 8, the edge region 53 of the pane 52 is pre-bent or bent to completion passively by its own weight and optionally actively by pressing.

A great advantage of pressing the disk 52 against the press frame 8 is a very precise definition of the position of the disk 52 on the press frame 8 with a exact abutment of the edge region 53 of the disc 52 on the pressing surface 51 of the Pressrah mens 8. This allows a precise position fixation of the disc 52 on the press frame 8 by the disc 52 adjacent stopper, which is not shown in detail. In this way, a particularly high level of production accuracy and good optical quality of the curved pane can be achieved. The fixing of the disk 52 on the contact surface 15 'was canceled by stopping the suction effect of the suction / blowing device 18'.

FIG. 13 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 12. The tool carrier 44 and thus the transportable tool 7 has been moved upwards in the vertical direction. During storage on the press frame 8, the pane 52 is additionally passively pre-bent in the inner area 54 by its own weight. If compression takes place in the edge region 53, the surface pre-bending can be restricted by gravity in the inner region 54.

FIG. 14 shows the device 1 for bending disks at a later point in time than in FIG. 13. The disk 52 is still mounted on the press frame 8. The tool carrier 44 was moved back in a horizontal direction from the bending chamber 2 into the tool carrier module 5, the transportable tool 7 being located within the tool carrier module cavity 46. Another disc 52 is already located on the roller conveyor bed 39 in the preheating zone 3.

FIG. 15 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 14. The next pane 52 is temporarily located within the bending chamber 2 on its transport path to the tool carrier module, and the tool carrier 44 with the first tool 7 attached to it has already been lowered in the direction of the roller conveyor bed 39.

FIG. 16 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 15. The stationary tool 11 was lowered in the vertical direction onto the pane 52, which rests on the press frame 8, and in the edge area 53 between the outer surface section 16 the contact surface 15 and the pressing surface 51 of the press frame 8 are pressed. The pressing surface 51 has a complementary shape to the outer surface section 16 of the contact surface 15. The edge region 53 of the disc 52 is thereby preferably bent completely, that is, it receives its edge end bend. However, it is also possible that the edge region 53 of Disk 52 is pre-bent (further). During the storage of the disc 52 on the press frame 8, the press frame 8 is not moved, so that there is no risk of the disc 52 changing position on the press frame 8 and discs 52 of particularly high quality can be produced. Incidentally, in this process phase, the next pane 52 has arrived in the tool carrier module above the blowing device 19 and below the transportable tool 7.

FIG. 17 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 16. After pressing, the pane 52 is fixed on the contact surface 15 of the stationary tool 11 by suction by means of the suction / blowing device 18 The fluid flow generating at the contact surface 15 is symbolically represented by arrows. FIG. 17 shows a situation in which the stationary tool 11 with the disk 52 fixed thereon was moved upward in the vertical direction. In contrast to the transportable tool 7, where, for example, only holding the disk 52 is intended and the negative pressure therefore does not cause any (at least significant) bending of the disk 52, the suction of the disk 52 against the contact surface 15 can also be used to bend the disk 52 That is, through the suction, sufficient mechanical pressure is generated to bend the disk 52 in the desired manner. The disk 52 can thus be pre-bent on the contact surface 15 in the inner region 54. In addition, a previously generated edge end bend in the edge region 53 can be maintained on the disk 52.

FIG. 18 shows the device 1 for bending disks at a later point in time than in FIG. 17. In FIG. 18, the next disk 52 is lifted to the contact surface of the transportable tool 7 by an air flow 19a generated by the blower device 19, during the Status of the previous disc within the bending chamber 2 is still the same as in the previous figure. This also applies to FIG. 19, in which the device 1 is shown with the tool carrier 44 raised (and the tool 7 attached to it and the (next) disk 52 fixed to it). The blower 19 is switched off in this state.

FIG. 20 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 19. FIG. 20 shows a situation in which the press frame 8 by moving the press frame support 35 in a horizontal plane from the press frame working position 38 within the Bending chamber 2 in the press frame rest position 37 within the press frame module cavity 27 of the press frame module 5 was moved. The pretensioning frame 21 was Move from the first prestressing frame position 22 between the two prestressing boxes 20 into the second prestressing frame position 23 within the bending chamber 2. The second pre-tensioning frame position 23 is in the vertical direction directly below the stationary tool 11. To allow entry into the bending chamber 2, the first bending chamber door 25 was opened for a short period of time, whereby a significant temperature loss can be avoided.

FIG. 21 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 20. Here, the stationary tool 11 with the pane 52 fixed to it was moved vertically downwards, the pane 52 being placed on the prestressing frame 21. The fixing of the disc 52 on the contact surface 15 was canceled by stopping the suction effect of the suction / blowing device 18. The placing of the disc 52 is supported by blowing with a fluid flow which is generated by means of the suction / blowing device 18.

FIG. 22 shows the device 1 for bending panes at a later point in time than in FIG. 21. FIG. 22 shows a situation in which the stationary tool 11 has been moved upwards in a vertical direction. The disk 52 is placed on the prestressing frame 21.

In the method phases shown in FIGS. 20-22, the next disk 52 already fixed on the contact surface of the transportable tool 7 “waits” in the tool carrier module cavity 46 for processing.

In the meantime, the first machined disc 52 is moved on the prestressing frame 21 from the second prestressing frame position 23 within the bending chamber 2 in the first prestressing frame position 22 between the two prestressing boxes 20, where the disk 52 is tempered. In order to allow an exit of the prestressing frame 21 with the disc 52 deposited from the bending chamber 2, the first bending chamber door 25 was opened for a short period of time, whereby a significant temperature loss can be avoided. During transport on the prestressing frame 21, an edge end bending and a surface end bending of the disk 52 can take place by gravity. For this purpose, the prestressing frame 21 preferably has an upwardly directed frame surface for contact with the pane 52 which is designed to be suitable for edge end bending. In addition, the prestressing frame 21 is preferably designed to be suitable for surface end bending by gravity. It can be seen from the foregoing that the invention enables quick and inexpensive production of even complex curved panes. The transportable tool introduced into the bending chamber from outside enables existing systems for bending panes to be retrofitted in a simple manner. By inserting and removing the transportable tool, space is created for the use of the stationary tool, ie it is possible to process disks by several tools in a simple manner. In particular, the quality of the disks can be further improved if the tool position is changed only in the vertical direction and the disks are not moved when they are stored on the press frame. In this context, the accuracy of the positioning of the pane on the press frame by pressing the pane between the tool and the press frame in the edge area of the pane is particularly advantageous. The transportable tool that can be introduced into the bending chamber from the outside can be positioned within the bending chamber with a particularly high degree of accuracy. This is particularly true when a movement mechanism for the tool carrier is arranged outside a heated area. In addition, the tools can be exchanged and / or serviced quickly and easily. The transportable tool can particularly advantageously be heated before use so that the processing of wafers can be carried out quickly, in particular after a tool change. The invention thus enables a particularly cost-effective production of, in particular, complex shaped disks with relatively short cycle times and particularly high quality requirements.

In particular, with the new process management and improved construction of the device, a significant reduction in the cycle time and thus an increase in productivity is made possible by handling two slices in a temporally overlapping manner and being in the device in phases at the same time.

List of reference symbols

1 device

2 bending chambers

3 preheating zone

4 preload zone

5 tool carrier module

6 press frame module

7 portable tools

8 press frames

9 wall of the bending chamber

10 bending chamber cavity

11 stationary tool

12 bracket

13 Venturi device

14 Bracket Moving Mechanism

15, 15 'contact area

16, 16 'outer surface section

17, 17 'inner surface section

18, 18 'suction / blowing device

19 Blower

19a air flow

20 preload box

21 Prestressing Frame

22 first prestressing frame position

23 second prestressing frame position

24 first bending chamber opening

25 first bending chamber door

26 Press frame module wall

27 Press frame module cavity

28 Press frame module opening

29 Press frame module door

30 second bending chamber opening

31 second bending chamber door

32 Press frame module moving mechanism Preheating zone heating device

Press frame module heating device

Press frame carrier

Press frame support moving mechanism

Press frame rest position

Press frame working position

Roller conveyor bed

role

Picking position

third bending chamber opening

Substructure

Tool carrier

Tool carrier module wall

Tool carrier module cavity

fourth bending chamber opening

Tool carrier module moving mechanism

wheel

Tool carrier moving mechanism

Pressing surface

disc

Edge area

Indoor

Claims

1. A method for bending disks, in which a disk (52) is fixed in a bending chamber (2) on a contact surface (15, 15 ') of a first tool (7) which is directed downwards in the operating state and from the first tool (7) a press frame (8, 21) is deposited, the first tool (7) being inserted into a tool carrier module (5) connected or connectable to the bending chamber (2) and the disk (52) there by means of a Fluid flow is conveyed to the contact surface (15, 15 ') and held there, the first tool (7) with the disk (52) attached to it is transported further into the bending chamber (2) and there the disk (52) is placed on the press frame (8, 21) is deposited, and the first tool (7) is removed from the bending chamber (2) after the disc (52) has been deposited on the press frame (8, 21).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the disc (52) is conveyed with a roller conveyor bed (39) in the tool carrier module (5) and there is lifted by an air flow (19a) to the first tool (7) from a below the roller conveyor bed (39) arranged blowing device (19) is generated and the roller conveyor bed (39) flows upwards.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the disc (52) with the roller conveyor bed (39) is conveyed from a preheating zone (3) through the bending chamber (2) into the tool carrier module (5).

4. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the fluid flow is a compressed air flow generated by a blower device (19) in the tool carrier module (5).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the disk (52) is deposited and pressed between the contact surface (15, 15 ') of the first tool (7) and the press frame (8).

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, which comprises steps i), steps ii) or step iii):

Steps i) - First edge pre-bending of the disc (52) in an edge region (53) by resting the disc (52) on the press frame (8) and optionally by pressing the disc (52) between the contact surface (15, 15 ') of the first tool ( 7) and the press frame (8),

- Second edge pre-bending of the disc (52) in the edge region (53) by pressing the disc (52) between the second tool (1 1) and the press frame (8),

- Edge end bending of the disc (52) in the edge area (53) by resting the disc (52) on the prestressing frame (21),

Steps ii)

- Edge pre-bending of the disc (52) in an edge region (53) by resting the disc (52) on the press frame (8) and optionally by pressing the disc (52) between the contact surface (15, 15 ') of the first tool (7) and the press frame (8),

- Edge end bending of the disc (52) in the edge region (53) by pressing the disc (52) between the second tool (1 1) and the press frame (8),

Step iii)

- Edge end bending of the disc (52) in an edge region (53) by pressing the disc (52) between the first tool (1 1, 7) and the press frame (8).

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the disc (52) resting on the press frame (8) is subjected to a surface pre-bending in an inner area (54) given by an edge area (53) by gravity.

8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the disc (52) resting on the prestressing frame (21) is subjected to a surface end bending in an inner region (54) of the disc (52) surrounded by an edge region (53) by gravity.

9. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 8, in which, before the disc (52) is placed on the press frame (8), the press frame (8) leads into the bending chamber (2) and after the disc (52) has been fixed ) is removed from the bending chamber (2) on the contact surface (15, 15 ') of the second tool (11).

10. Device (1) for bending disks (52), in particular for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising:

- a bending chamber (2) which can be heated to a temperature suitable for bending panes,

- A tool carrier module (5) connected or connectable to the bending chamber (2), - A conveying device (39) for conveying a disk into the tool carrier module (5), at least one stationary tool (11) with a contact surface (15) for fixing a disk (52), which during the period in which the same disk ( 52) is located in the bending chamber (2), is permanently located in the bending chamber (2),

- At least one transportable tool (7) with a downward-facing contact surface (15 ') for fixing a disc (52), which is temporarily outside during the period in which the same disc (52) is in the bending chamber (2) the bending chamber (2) is arranged, wherein the transportable tool (7) is attached to a movable tool carrier (44), wherein the transportable tool (7) can be introduced into and out of the bending chamber (2) by moving the tool carrier (44) Bending chamber (2) is removable, and

- A blowing device (19) placed in the tool carrier module (5) for lifting the disk (52) conveyed into the tool carrier module (5) to the contact surface (15 ') of the transportable tool (7).

1 1. Device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the conveyor device is designed as a roller conveyor bed (39) and the blower device (19) in the tool carrier module (5) below the Rol lenförderbetts is arranged such that an air flow generated by it (19a) the rollers of the roller conveyor bed flows through.

12. The device (1) according to claim 11, which has a preheating zone (3) which is connected to the tool carrier module (5) opposite to the bending chamber (2), wherein the roller conveyor bed (39) from the preheating zone (3) through the bending chamber (2) runs through into the tool carrier module (5).

13. Device (1) according to one of claims 10 to 12, in which the tool carrier module (5) has a heatable tool carrier module cavity (46).

14. The device (1) according to claim 13, in which a tool carrier movement mechanism (50) for moving the tool carrier (44) is at least partially arranged outside the heatable tool carrier module cavity (46) and / or which has a cooling device for cooling the tool carrier ( 44).

15. Device (1) according to one of claims 10 to 14, which comprises:

- A press frame (8) for pressing a disc (52), the tools (11, 7) and the press frame (8) being movable relative to one another in the vertical direction, so that a Disc (52) can be pressed between a respective contact surface (15, 15 ') of the tools (11, 7) and a pressing surface (51) of the pressing frame (8),

a prestressing zone (4) with a cooling device (20) for the thermal prestressing of a disk (52),

- A prestressing frame (21) for transporting a disc (52) from the bending chamber (2) to the prestressing zone (4).