EP0674085A1 - Apparatus for filling insulating glazing with a heavy gas - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has vertically directed plates (2) on both sides of the pane to be filled. At least one plate is displaceable crossways to its plane relatively to the other plate. A gastight conveyor device is provided for the insulated glass panes in the area of the lower edge of the plate. Sealing device (80) are fitted in their effective position to the vertical edges of the insulating glass pane. One of the sealing devices is displaceable parallel to the plane of the plates. The sealing device displaceable in the conveyor direction is fitted with its ends on slides (90,91), which are movable parallel to the upper and lower horizontal edge of the one plate (2).

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling insulating glass panes with heavy gas, with substantially perpendicular plates arranged on both sides of the insulating glass pane to be filled, at least one of which is displaceable transversely to its plane relative to the other plate, with a conveyor for insulating glass panes in the region the lower edge of the plates, the conveying device being designed to be gas-tight, and with sealing devices which are assigned in their operative position to the two vertical edges of the insulating glass pane, one of the sealing devices being displaceable parallel to the plane of the plates.

A device of the type mentioned is known from DE 93 02 744 U1.

The invention is based on the object, based on the known device, of proposing a device which is improved with regard to the displaceability of the one sealing device.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that the ends of the sealing device which can be moved in the conveying direction are mounted on slides which can be moved parallel to the upper and lower horizontal edge of the one plate.

Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

If, according to a proposal of the invention, the slides are attached to endless conveyor belts and are displaceable on guide rails, this results in problem-free adjustability and the displaceable sealing device can be brought into its operative position quickly and precisely.

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the sealing device is fastened at its lower end with the slide which is displaceable along the lower horizontal edge of the plate, so as to be pivotable about an axis which is aligned parallel to the conveying direction, and that the sealing device at its upper end onto the opposite plate in is movable back and forth. In this embodiment, the displaceable sealing device can be moved away from the plate on which it is guided, so that no disturbing and wear-causing friction occurs between the plate and the sealing device when the sealing device is displaced.

If the sealing device is essentially cuboid, and if the sealing device has an elastically compressible body between two support plates, and the sealing device can be placed with one of its narrow sides against the facing edges of the glass panes of the insulating glass pane, then the plates can e.g. for pressing filled insulating glass panes can be approximated without this being hindered by the displaceable sealing device, at least in its operative position, arranged between the plates. It is preferred if sealing strips, in particular those made of rubber-elastic material, are provided on the narrow side of the sealing device facing the insulating glass pane. In this embodiment, it can also be provided that one of the sealing strips is L-shaped in cross section and extends with one of its legs up to the narrow side of the body facing the insulating glass pane made of elastically flexible material. It is further preferred that the sealing strips protrude beyond the narrow side of the sealing device facing the insulating glass pane. A sufficiently effective sealing device is thus created in a simple manner.

Precise guidance of the displaceable sealing device is obtained if one of the two support plates has an edge which protrudes from the body made of elastically flexible material.

It is preferred according to the invention that the body made of elastic compliant material is a body made of foam plastic.

A similarly favorable arrangement is obtained if the sealing device is fastened to the slide via the support plate facing the plate along which it can be displaced. It can be provided with a similar advantage that the pivot axis at the lower end of the sealing device is aligned with respect to the adjacent plate such that the sealing strip facing the plate is immediately adjacent to the surface of the plate facing the other plate.

If, in the device of the invention, the sealing device provided on the outlet side in relation to the conveying direction of the conveyor device can be pulled back and forth transversely to the plane of the fixed plate, then it is preferred according to the invention that the sealing device can be applied to the vertical, outlet-side edges of the two plates.

A favorable movement sequence results if the sealing device can be applied to the edges of the plates by a pivoting movement. This advantageous movement can be achieved according to one embodiment of the invention in that the sealing device is attached to an arm which is adjustably mounted in the machine frame by means of parallelogram links. In practice, it has proven to be useful if an arm is provided at each of the lower and upper ends of the sealing device, which arm is mounted in the machine frame via parallelogram links. The drive for executing the movements of the sealing device on the outlet side is preferably designed such that the parallelogram links are coupled to a shaft to which a drive for rotating the shaft is assigned.

• Fig. 1 eine erste Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 2 ebenfalls in Seitenansicht eine zweite Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung,
• Fig. 3 eine Vorrichtung in Ansicht von vorne ohne die vordere Platte,
• Fig. 4 einen Horizontalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung von Fig. 3 im Bereich der in ihr stehenden Isolierglasscheibe,
• Fig. 5 im Schnitt analog Fig. 4 eine weitere Ausführungsform,
• Fig. 6 in Draufsicht ein Beispiel für eine Einrichtung zum Zuführen von Schwergas,
• Fig. 7 in Stirnansicht ein Beispiel für eine Dichteinrichtung,
• Fig. 8 eine Ausführungsform einer verschiebbaren Dichteinrichtung gemäß der Erfindung,
• Fig. 9 eine Seitenansicht zu Fig. 8,
• Fig. 10 eine Ausführungsform der auslaufseitig angeordneten Dichteinrichtung gemäß der Erfindung,
• Fig. 11 eine gleichzeitig als Presse ausgebildete Zusammenbauvorrichtung in einer ersten Arbeitsstufe,
• Fig. 12 die Vorrichtung aus Fig. 1 in einer zweiten Arbeitsstufe,
• Fig. 13 die Vorrichtung in ihrer Stellung beim Füllen einer Isolierglasscheibe mit Schwergas,
• Fig. 14 die Vorrichtung in der Stellung gemäß Fig. 13 (von oben) in Richtung des Pfeiles XIV von Fig. 13 gesehen,
• Fig. 15 die Vorrichtung in der Stellung gemäß Fig. 13 in Richtung des Pfeiles V gesehen ohne die bewegliche Preßplatte,
• Fig. 16 die Vorrichtung beim Füllen von Formenscheiben,
• Fig. 17 eine erste Ausführungsform einer Dichtung am unteren Rand der beweglichen Platte und
• Fig. 18 eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Dichtung,
• Fig. 19 eine Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung in der Stellung von Fig. 13 in Richtung des Pfeiles XV gesehen ohne die bewegliche Preßplatte,
• Fig. 20 eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung zum Zusammenbauen und Füllen von Isolierglasscheiben im Bereich des unteren Randes der beiden Platten und die
• Fig. 21 und 22 schematisch eine Ausführungsform des im Kanal verschiebbaren Kolbens mit seinem Betätigungsfinger.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from the following description and the exemplary embodiments of the invention shown schematically in the drawings. It shows:

• 1 shows a first embodiment of the device in side view,
• 2 also a side view of a second embodiment of the device,
• 3 shows a device in front view without the front plate,
• 4 shows a horizontal section through the device from FIG. 3 in the region of the insulating glass pane standing in it, FIG.
• 5 in section analogous to FIG. 4 a further embodiment,
• 6 is a plan view of an example of a device for supplying heavy gas,
• 7 is an end view of an example of a sealing device,
• 8 shows an embodiment of a displaceable sealing device according to the invention,
• 9 is a side view of FIG. 8,
• 10 shows an embodiment of the sealing device arranged on the outlet side according to the invention,
• 11 shows an assembly device which is simultaneously designed as a press in a first working stage,
• 12 shows the device from FIG. 1 in a second working stage,
• 13 the device in its position when filling an insulating glass pane with heavy gas,
• 14 the device in the position according to FIG. 13 (seen from above) in the direction of arrow XIV of FIG. 13,
• 15 the device in the position according to FIG. 13 seen in the direction of arrow V without the movable press plate,
• 16 shows the device when filling shaped disks,
• Fig. 17 shows a first embodiment of a seal on the lower edge of the movable plate and
• 18 shows a second embodiment of a seal,
• 19 an embodiment of the device in the position of FIG. 13 seen in the direction of arrow XV without the movable press plate,
• Fig. 20 shows a detail of the device for assembling and filling insulating glass panes in the region of the lower edge of the two plates and the
• 21 and 22 schematically show an embodiment of the piston displaceable in the channel with its actuating finger.

The device shown in Figures 1 to 7 has two substantially vertical, preferably slightly vertical, e.g. by 3 to 5 °, backwards inclined, parallel plates 1 and 2.

The plates 1 and 2 can be the plates of a device for pressing insulating glass panes 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the plate 1 is fastened to supports 3 and 4 of the frame of the device. The plate 2 is displaceable in the direction of the double arrow 7 via pressure medium cylinders 5 and 6. At the lower edge of the fixed plate 1, below the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2, a conveyor belt 9 is provided, on which standing up and leaning against the plate 1, which is designed, for example, as an air cushion wall, is an insulating glass pane 10 (package consisting of two glass panes and an interposed spacer frame) can be conveyed into space 8.

Although not shown in FIGS. 1 to 16 and 19 to 22, seals are provided on the adjustable plates 2 of these devices, along the lower, horizontal edge, which seal the plate 2 below against the conveyor device 9. Embodiments for this are shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 and will be described later.

It can be seen from Fig. 1 that the glass plate 11 facing the movable plate 2 of the insulating glass pane 10 only rests against the spacer frame 14 attached to the other glass pane 13, whereas the lower horizontal edge of this glass pane 11 of the insulating glass pane 10 from the spacer frame 14 has a distance so that there is access to the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 there and partly at the vertical edges of the insulating glass pane.

To act on the fixed plate 1 designed as an air cushion wall, it is equipped with a connection 12 for supplying compressed air.

The embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 2 differs from the device shown in FIG. 1, inter alia, in that the movable plate 2 is adjustable in the direction of the double arrow 7 with the aid of rack and pinion drives 16. A rack is provided in each of the four corners of the movable plate 2. The rack and pinion drives 16 are actuated by a common pressure medium motor 15 via a linkage.

A more detailed explanation of this drive, which can be used, for example, for adjusting the plate 2, can be found in AT 385 499 B. The movable plate 2 can also be adjusted with the aid of spindle drives, as described in AT-A 2956/87 (published June 15, 1990 ) is known.

In Fig. 2 it is shown that on the movable plate 2 pressure stamps 20 are provided, which can be advanced with the aid of pressure medium cylinders 21 to the upper edge of the insulating glass pane 10 and the glass plate 11 adjacent to the movable plate 2 of the insulating glass pane 10 in contact with the Hold spacer frame 14. Instead of individual pressure stamps 20, a horizontally continuous pressure bar can also be provided.

Around the pressure stamp 20 or the horizontally continuous pressure bar opposite the upper edge of the insulating glass pane 10 to align, the arrangement of pressure stamps 20 or pressure bar and pressure medium motors 21 on the movable plate 2 in the direction of the double arrow 22, ie essentially vertically, is slidably arranged. If one wants to forego the height adjustability of the pressure elements, resilient or vertically aligned pressure bars 23 can also be provided (adjustable with pressure medium cylinders 21) (FIG. 1).

The pressure stamps 20 or the pressure strips 23 can be retracted into or behind the surface of the movable plate 2 facing the fixed plate 1, in particular if the device is also used for pressing insulating glass panes 11 after filling with heavy gas.

Instead of pressure medium motors 21 for moving the pressure stamp 20 or pressure strip (s) 23, the components mentioned (pressure stamp or pressure strip) can also be spring-supported on the movable plate 2, so that they can be pressed back into a position when the insulating glass pane 10 is pressed, in which its front is aligned with the surface of the movable plate 2 facing the insulating glass pane 10.

The interior of an insulating glass pane 10 located in the device according to FIG. 1 or 2 is moved upwards by the upper leg of the spacer frame 14 and downwards, namely where the insulating glass pane 10 is still open, by the continuous conveyor belt 9 (or a other sealed gastight conveyor).

In order to also seal the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 on the approximately vertical side edges, sealing devices 30 and 31 can be provided on the vertical edges of the insulating glass pane 10 or the plates 1 and 2.

The, relative to the conveying direction (arrow 25 in FIG. 3), the front sealing device 30 can be pushed perpendicular to the plane of the fixed plate 1 (double arrow 32) into the space 8 between the two plates 1 and 2 or swiveled about an essentially vertical axis 61 (see Fig. 5, arrow 46). For this purpose, a vertical slot 33 is provided in the fixed plate 1 and the sealing device 30 is coupled to a drive, for example at least one pressure medium cylinder 34.

In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sealing device 30 consists of an essentially vertical support strip 35 and a seal 36 made of elastic material. In one embodiment, the seal 36 is essentially V-shaped in cross-section and has two sealing lips 37 and 38, which seal against the vertical edges of the two glass panes 11 and 13 of the insulating glass pane 10.

So that the sealing device 30 can be used for the insulating glass panes 10 with different overall thicknesses, the sealing lip 37 can carry an extension 39 which is oriented essentially perpendicular to the fixed plate 1. The sealing device 30 can simultaneously act as an end stop for the insulating glass pane 10.

The second sealing device 31 is adjustable in the device in the direction of the double arrow 40. For this purpose, the sealing device 31, as shown in FIG. 3, can be guided over a slide 42 on a guide rail 41 fastened to the machine frame and can be displaced by a drive, not shown. The structure of the sealing device 31 otherwise corresponds to that of the sealing device 30, i.e. it has a support strip 35 and the actual seal 36 with the two sealing lips 37 and 38 and the shoulder 39.

In a modified embodiment, the sealing devices 30 and / or 31 can also be arranged on the movable plate 2.

An embodiment is also possible in which the sealing device 30 is arranged as shown in FIG. 4 and the sealing device 31 is arranged on the movable plate 2 (FIG. 5). In this case, the guide rail 41 is fixed to the movable plate 2. To the sealing device 31 during the transport of heavy gas to be filled, still to move open insulating glass panes 10 into the device from the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2, in the embodiment according to FIG. 4 a recess 44 can be provided in the plate 1, into which the sealing device 31 can be moved in order to close the space 8 between the Make plates 1 and 2 free. In the case of a sealing device 31 guided on the plate 2, there is also the possibility of providing a corresponding recess 44 in the plate 2 for receiving the sealing device 31 when it is in its ready position. In many cases, however, it will suffice to move the movable plate 2 and thus the sealing device 31 away from the plate 1 in order to create space for the transport of an insulating glass pane 10.

On the sealing device 30, a connection 50 for supplying heavy gas, with which the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 is to be filled, is provided. Furthermore, at least one connection 51, 52 or 53, via which air or air-gas mixture escaping from the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 is discharged (the connections are only symbolized by arrows in FIG. 3). There are various ways of combining these connections 50 to 53, 157 and 156.

Thus, the connection 50 for supplying heavy gas in the region of the front, lower corner of the insulating glass pane 10 can be provided on the sealing device 30. The connection 51, 52 or 53 for discharging air or air-gas mixture can on the sealing device 31 in the region of the lower corner of the insulating glass pane 10 (arrow 51) in relation to the conveying direction (arrow 51) in the region of the rear upper corner of the Insulating glass pane 10 (arrow 52) or in the area of the front, in relation to the conveying direction (arrow 25), vertical edge of the insulating glass pane 10 (arrow 53). According to an embodiment yet to be explained, the connections 51 to 53 can also be omitted at all or can be combined in combination with a device for supplying heavy gas through the conveyor belt 9 provided with corresponding openings or divided lengthways (cf. arrows 156 and 157 in FIG. 3). .

When the connection 50 is combined with the connection 51, the connection 50 is preferably designed such that the heavy gas flows with an upward flow into the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 in order to prevent heavy gas from reaching the connection 51 directly.

Another possibility is to combine the connection 50 with the connection 52, so that there is a diagonal flushing of the insulating glass pane 10.

If the connection 50 is combined with the connection 53, there is a reverse flushing of the interior of the insulating glass pane 10, as is known in principle from EP-444 391-A or DE-42 02 612-A, in which case the Connection 53 can have a mouth pointing upward in the interior of the insulating glass pane 10.

The specific design of the connections 50, 51, 52 and 53 for the supply of heavy gas into and the discharge of air and air-gas mixture from the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 is not critical. For example, probes or nozzles protruding into the interior can be provided, in particular for the heavy gas supply, or there are simply heavy gas supply lines and the exhaust line for air or air-gas mixture at the affected points through the support bar 35 and the seal 36, so that they open in the area between the two sealing lips 37 and 38. Openings through the conveyor belt 9 are also possible.

An exemplary embodiment for a connection 70 for supplying heavy gas into the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 is shown in plan view in FIG. 6. The connection 70 has a housing 73 which pivots about a substantially vertical axis 71 (arrow 72) into the operative position shown in FIG. 6 and from this into a position pivoted out behind the surface of the plate 1 (or 2) facing the insulating glass pane 10 can be. The housing 73 has an elongated slot-shaped outlet opening 74 which can extend up to or into the gap 60 of the insulating glass pane 10. Leaving the opening 74 via at least one line 75, with a side Mouth 76, heavy gas supplied into the interior of the insulating glass pane 10. A plurality of lines 75 can also be provided one above the other in the housing 73.

The sealing device 30 is also shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. The connection 70 can be moved independently of the sealing device 30.

In particular, if the heavy gas (also) is supplied via the connection 50 and air or air-gas mixture is removed at the point 51 and / or 53, the seals 36 between their sealing lips 37 and 38 can be horizontal, i.e. Ridges aligned perpendicular to the plates 1 and 2, which divide the space ("channel") between the two sealing lips 37 and 38 and the edges of the two glass panes of the insulating glass pane 10 in the height direction into at least two sections in order to allow heavy gas to escape through the to at least obstruct the channel formed between the edges of the glass panes of the insulating glass pane 10 and the seals 36. It is also possible for the webs to have a projection in the middle which at least partially engages in the space between the two glass panes of the insulating glass pane 10. Such webs between the sealing lips 37 and 38 are provided in particular in the seal 36 of the sealing device 30.

If the connection for the heavy gas supply is combined with the connection 53 for extracting air or air-gas mixture, it is advisable to provide a similar web between the two connections 50 and 53, if not in the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 projecting nozzles or probes for the supply of heavy gas and the extraction of air or air-gas mixture.

7 shows a preferred embodiment of the sealing devices 30 and / or 31.

The overall substantially cuboidal sealing device 80 consists of two rectangular support plates 81 and 82 made of rigid material, for example of sheet metal.

Between the support plates 81 and 82, an elastically resilient cuboid body 84, which consists for example of elastically compressible synthetic foam, is arranged and connected to the surfaces of the support plates 81 and 82 facing it. The body 84 can also be replaced by springs, wherein a flexible film can be provided between the support plates 81 and 82, in particular in the area between the sealing strips 85 and 87.

The one support plate 81 projects with its edge 83 on one side over the foam body 84 and can thus be fastened to a holding device so that the sealing device 80 can carry out the movements provided for the sealing devices 30 and / or 31.

On the side of the sealing device 80 facing the insulating glass pane 10 to be filled with heavy gas, sealing strips 85, 87 are provided which are made of rubber-like material, e.g. Polyurethane (trade name Vulkollan) or the like exist. The sealing strip 85 rests with its surface 86 on the adjacent vertical edge of the one glass pane of the insulating glass pane 10, whereas the sealing strip 87 bears with its surface 88 on the vertical edge of the other glass pane of the insulating glass pane 10. The sealing strips 85 and 87 protrude beyond the surface 80 'of the sealing device 80, so that an essentially vertical channel is formed on the edge of the insulating glass pane 10 which is sealed with it.

If the plates 1 and 2 of the device for filling insulating glass panes 10 with heavy gas are brought closer to one another, then they first lay against the outer sides of the two support plates 81 and 82 of the sealing device 80. These are brought closer together by elastically compressing the body 84 in the direction of the arrows 89 shown in FIG. 7, so that the sealing device 80 does not hinder the further movement of the plates 1 and 2 of the device towards one another, for example when the insulating glass pane 10 is closed and pressed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the sealing devices are 30 and 31 equipped with flat seals 36 (such seals can also be used in the other embodiments). The sealing device 30 arranged on the outlet side and assigned to the front vertical edge of the insulating glass pane 10 can be pivoted into the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2 (axis 61, arrow 46) and can also be adjusted perpendicularly to these plates 1 and 2 (arrow 32) if the Connection 50/70 for the supply of heavy gas is arranged directly on the sealing device 30/80 in order to align it with the gap 60 between the one glass pane 11 and the spacer frame 14 of the insulating glass pane 10.

The connection 50/70 can (in all embodiments) be arranged independently of the sealing device 30. For example, slot-shaped mouth of the connection 70 (FIG. 6), without the entire sealing device 30 having to be adjusted, are aligned with the gap 60 between the spacer frame 14 and the glass pane 11 arranged at a distance therefrom.

Since the adjustable sealing device 31 is arranged on the movable plate 2 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the insulating glass pane 10 to be filled with heavy gas can be conveyed freely into the space 8 with the plate 2 and sealing device 31 moved away from the fixed plate 1. The sealing device 31 can be aligned by pushing the plate 2 (arrow 7) and additionally by moving perpendicularly (arrow 45) to this plate 2 with respect to the vertical edge of the insulating glass pane 10 and sealingly applied thereto.

The two sealing lips 37, 38 of the seals 36 of the two sealing devices 30 and 31 are just as elastic as the possibly provided webs and the possibly provided extension 39 on the sealing lip 37 so that when pressing an insulating glass pane 10 filled with heavy gas by approaching the movable plate 2 to the plate 1, without hindering the pressing process, can be compressed elastically.

The device described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 works as follows:

An insulating glass pane 10, for example in the device known from AT-370 201-B or AT-370 706-B or assembled by hand, the one glass pane 11 of which is at a distance from the spacer frame 14 placed on the other glass pane 13 conveyed on the conveyor belt 9 standing up into the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2 until, in relation to the conveying direction (arrow 25), the front vertical edge bears against the advanced or pivoted-in sealing device 30. Now the second sealing device 31 becomes a ready position, in which it is located, for example, next to plate 1 or next to plate 2 or in a recess 44 in plate 1 or plate 2, in space 8 between the two plates 1 and 2 moved so far that its seal 36 with its two sealing lips 37 and 38 bears against the vertical edge of the insulating glass pane 10, which is at the rear in relation to the conveying direction (arrow 25).

When the sealing device 31 is arranged on the plate 2, the plate 2 is moved towards the plate 1 in order to align the sealing device 31 with the insulating glass pane 10.

Then, if provided, the pressure stamps 20 (or the pressure bar 23) are advanced relative to the movable plate 2 and placed on the upper edge of the insulating glass pane 10 (in the case of resilient pressure stamps 20 or a resilient pressure bar, plate 2 is approximated to plate 1 until the pressure stamps 20 or the pressure bar touches / touches the facing glass pane 11). The movable plate 2 can also be advanced so far on the fixed plate 1 that the movable plate 2 touches the adjacent glass pane 11 of the insulating glass pane 10 at its edge standing up on the conveyor 9 from the side and thus the glass pane 11 in the region of its supports the lower edge.

As soon as this has been done, the interior of the insulating glass pane is 10 sealed all around and the actual gas exchange can begin. In this case, heavy gas is introduced into the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 via the connection (arrow 50) and / or, as will be described later, through the conveyor belt 9 and air or air-gas mixture, for example via the discharge lines 51, 52 and / or 53 deducted, the removal of air or air-gas mixture can be supported by pumping.

With the device according to the invention, the filling of an insulating glass pane 10 with heavy gas can also be carried out as described below.

The heavy gas is preferably introduced into the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 via an obliquely upwardly directed nozzle through the connection 50 and the sealing device 30. Air or air-gas mixture occurs over the entire height of the gap at the rear vertical edge of the insulating glass pane 10, based on the conveying direction (arrow 25), between the glass pane adjacent to the movable plate 2 and the other of the fixed plate 1 spacer frame attached to adjacent glass pane. Air or air-gas mixture enters the channel formed on one side by the seal 36 of the sealing device 31 and on the other side by the edge of the insulating glass pane 10 (over its entire height, which essentially corresponds to the height of the insulating glass pane 10) ), and flows out of it upwards. The aforementioned channel is thus formed from the space between the seal 36 on the one hand and the rear, vertical edge joint of the insulating glass pane 10 which is still open towards the interior of the insulating glass pane 10.

This method of operation is particularly advantageous since the large outlet cross-section means that the flow velocity with the air or air-gas mixture exits the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 is slow, so that turbulence and an orderly filling process impairing nozzle effects are reduced or avoided.

If desired, you can use the procedure described above air or air-gas mixture escaping the duct are collected and disposed of or reprocessed by a suction device assigned to the upper end of the duct described, in order to recover heavy gas for use in another gas exchange.
It goes without saying that in the previously described working technique, when filling the insulating glass pane 10 with heavy gas, the connections 51, 52, 53 are unnecessary for removing air or air-gas mixture. In this working technique, too, no transverse webs of the type described above are provided in the seal 36 of the sealing device 31 between the sealing lips 37 and 38.

In the described mode of operation, it is not a disadvantage if no transverse webs are provided in the seal 36 of the sealing device 30, so that heavy gas is also introduced into the channel in the area of the sealing device 31 by its seal 36 and the adjacent edge of the insulating glass pane 10 Enter the interior of the insulating glass pane 10, or - provided a corresponding nozzle (see below) - air or air-gas mixture can escape and flow away. Regardless of this, it is preferred that the seal 36 of the sealing device 30 in the working technique just described has the aforementioned webs, which allow an outflow of air or air-gas mixture in the region of the front edge, based on the conveying direction (arrow 25) the insulating glass pane 10 at least hinder.

If, as described above, the filling process is carried out without special connections 51, 52 or 53 being provided for withdrawing the air or air-gas mixture, that is to say the air or air-gas mixture through the duct in the region the sealing device 31 is discharged, it is recommended if in the area of the connection 50 for supplying heavy gas into the interior of the insulating glass pane 10 there is a nozzle projecting into the interior of the insulating glass pane 10, the mouth of which widens (slow outflow speed), and its Mouth is preferably directed obliquely upwards.

As soon as inside the insulating glass pane 10 the desired one Degree of filling (for sound insulation approximately 50%, for full thermal insulation at least 90% heavy gas inside the insulating glass pane 10) has been reached, the heavy gas supply is interrupted and the insulating glass pane 10 is preferably still pressed in the device after the two sealing devices 30, 31 from the space 8 between plates 1 and 2 have been removed. If the sealing devices 30 and 31 are so narrow that they are narrower than the insulating glass pane 10 to be produced or are elastically compressible (FIG. 7), they can also remain in the space 8 of the device, while the insulating glass pane 10 is brought closer to the plate 2 is pressed onto the plate 1. When plate 2 approaches plate 1, glass plate 11 of insulating glass plate 10 adjacent plate 2 is initially placed entirely on spacer frame 14. In order to facilitate this movement, the plate 2 can be equipped with vacuum devices for fixing the glass pane 11 to the plate 2 (for example suction heads or the plate 2 is provided with openings to which vacuum can be applied) and can be raised slightly (approximately 0.5 mm ) to prevent the lower edge of the glass pane 11 from sliding across the conveyor belt 9. For lifting the plate 2, for example, eccentric cams can be provided which are assigned to the lower edge of the plate 2.

Then the plate 2 is moved away from the plate 1 again and the finished pressed and filled with heavy gas insulating glass pane 10 can be removed from the device and, for example, transported to a sealing device.

Embodiments for sealing devices 80, 30 are described below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, which for one of the devices for the filling of, which are otherwise designed as described in FIGS. 1 to 7 and 11 to 22 and described with reference to these figures Insulating glass panes 10 with heavy gas can be provided. The operation of the embodiment with the sealing devices 80, 30 according to FIGS. 8 to 10 also corresponds to the description of FIGS. 1 to 7 and 11 to 22 except for the differences explained below.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the sealing device 80, which corresponds to the vertical edge of the insulating glass pane to be filled, which corresponds to the conveying direction (arrow 25), that is to say corresponds to the displaceable sealing device 31 of the previously described embodiments, is on two carriages 90, 91 attached. The carriages 90, 91 are guided on guide rails 92, 93 provided along the upper and lower, horizontal edge of the plate 2. Combined with the guide rails 92, 93, i.e. incorporated in them (FIG. 9) are two endless belts 94 to which the carriages 90, 91 are connected. To drive the belts 94, a drive motor 95 is mounted in the machine frame, which drives a shaft 96 on which drive rollers 97, 98 for the belts 94 are fastened. At the end opposite the drive shaft 96, the endless belts 94 are guided over deflection rollers, not shown.

The support plate 81 of the sealing device 80, which is otherwise designed as shown in FIG. 7, is mounted on the lower slide 93 so as to be pivotable about a horizontally oriented axis 99. The upper end of the support plate 81 is movable by means of a pressure medium cylinder 100 or a similar device in the sense of the double arrow 101, so that the sealing device 80 from the position shown in Fig. 9, in which it forms an acute angle with the plate 2, in a position is pivotable in which it is aligned parallel to the plate 2. The axis 99 is arranged so that the support plate 81 or the seal 85 provided thereon (FIG. 7) also in the position in which the sealing device 80 forms an acute angle with the plate 2, which is visible in FIG. 8 Side of plate 2, di the side facing the movable plate 1 of the device is arranged immediately adjacent.

Due to the pivotability of the sealing device 80, the sealing device 80 can be moved along the plate 2 without it or the sealing strip 85 on the front side 102 of the plate 2, in order to reach the vertical edge of an insulating glass pane 10 at the rear relative to the conveying direction (arrow 25) to be created.

In the embodiment of the device according to the invention shown in FIG. 10, the sealing device 30 arranged on the outlet side is fastened at its upper and lower ends to an arm 107 which is supported by a pair of parallelogram links 108, 109 which is pivotably mounted in the machine frame . A pressure medium cylinder 110 is provided to move the sealing device 30 into its ready position and from it into its operative position (FIG. 10), which acts on a lever 111. The lever 111 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a shaft 112 connecting the two links 109 arranged one above the other.

In Fig. 10 it is shown that the sealing device 30 does not rest in its operative position on the vertical, outlet-side edges of the insulating glass pane 10, but on the vertical edges 105 and 106 of the plates 1 and 2.

With the device according to the invention, described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, it is also possible to work in such a way that the one glass pane 11 on the movable plate 2 is kept entirely at a distance from the spacer frame 14 placed on the other glass pane 13 during the filling process. This is readily possible if the plate 2 is set up to hold a glass pane. For example, the plate 2 can have openings on its surface facing the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2, which are subjected to negative pressure in order to hold a glass pane in place.

The embodiment of a device of the invention shown in FIG. 11 has a plate 1 which is fastened in the machine frame by means of supports. Opposite the plate 1, a further plate 2 is provided, which is attached to piston rods of pressure medium cylinders 5, 6, which in turn are mounted on the machine frame. By actuating the pressure medium cylinders 5, 6, the plate 1 can be adjusted in the direction of the double arrow 7 with respect to the plate 1 which is fixedly mounted in the machine frame.

At the bottom of the plate 1 is a conveyor in Form of an endless conveyor belt 9 is provided.
As a first step in the assembly of an insulating glass pane filled with heavy gas, a first glass pane 13, leaning against the plate 1 and supported by the conveyor belt 9 at the bottom, is moved into the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2 to a predetermined end position (for example by the sealing device 30). In order to facilitate the transport of the glass pane 13, the plate 1 can be designed as an air cushion wall and compressed air is fed to it when the glass pane 13 is transported in via a connecting line 12.

As soon as the glass pane 13 has reached its predetermined end position, the adjustable plate 2 is advanced until it lies against the glass pane 13 with its surface facing the plate 1. As soon as this has been achieved, the plate 2, which has openings on its side facing the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2 via a line 12 ′, is subjected to negative pressure and, if necessary, a negative pressure applied to the plate 1 via line 12 until then (To hold the glass pane 13 in the predetermined end position) canceled. The plate 2 is moved back to the position shown in FIG. 12 with the glass pane 13 held on it.

As the next step, a further glass plate 11 is transported with a spacer 14 placed on it into the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2 up to the predetermined end position which the glass plate 13 previously assumed.

By actuating the pressure medium motors 5, 6, the movable plate 2 with the glass pane 13 held on it is now advanced in the direction of the fixed plate 1 until the glass pane 13 lies just before the spacer 14 on the glass plate 11 (distance a few mm). This position is shown in FIG. 13, in which it can be seen that the glass pane 13 does not touch the spacer 14 at any point.

As soon as this position has been reached, a seal 30 is placed on the front end of the plates 1 and 2 in relation to the conveying direction (arrow 25 in FIG. 14), which was previously in a ready position next to the plate 1 Has. The seal 30 can also be applied to the edges of the glass panes 13 and 11. If the vertical edges of the glass panes 13 and 11 which are in front of the conveying direction are aligned with the edges of the plates 1 and 2, then the seal 30 bears against both the glass panes 13 and 11 and the plates 1 and 2.

Before, at the same time or after the seal 30 is pivoted in, the displaceable seal 31 is moved from its ready position (for example next to the adjustable plate 2, shown in broken lines in FIG. 14) in the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2 until it with respect to the conveying direction (arrow 25), the front surface against which, with respect to the conveying direction, the rear, vertical edges of the glass panes 13 and 11 abut.

Furthermore, the nozzle 70 is pivoted in (unless it is filled exclusively by the conveyor belt 9, i.e. from below with heavy gas), so that its mouth 74, for example in the region of the lower end of the seal 30 in front of the gap 60 between the spacer 14 and the glass plate 13 comes to lie (or protrudes into it). The heavy gas with which the insulating glass pane 10 is to be filled can be fed to the nozzle 70 via a flexible line.

The sealing device 31, which is adjustable in the conveying direction (arrow 25), can be displaced on its upper and at its lower end by means of carriages 42 on guide rails 41, the guide rails 41 being assigned to the upper and lower edges of the adjustable plate 2, for example fastened to this plate 2 . For displacement, the seal 31 can be removed from the plate 2 e.g. can be removed by folding away (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

The position now reached is shown again in FIG. 15 in the direction of arrow XV of FIG. 13, the adjustable plate 2 not being shown. When heavy gas is introduced, a gas lake 160 forms in the space 8 between the two glass plates 13 and 11, which is laterally delimited by the sealing devices 30, 31, the interface of which 161 migrates upwards during the filling process, displacing air upwards from the space 8 between the glass plates 13 and 11, as symbolized in FIG. 15 by the arrows 162.

In particular in the case of larger insulating glass panes 10, heavy gas can also be supplied at several points at the same time, as is symbolized by the arrows 155 or 156 or 157 in FIG. 15. It is taken into account that heavy gas is only supplied at one of the points symbolized by the arrows 150, 155, 156 and 157. The introduction of heavy gas through the conveyor belt 9 is preferred (arrows 156, 157).

If heavy gas is supplied, as indicated by the arrows 156 and / or 157, it can be provided that at least one opening is provided in the conveyor belt 9, which is largely gas-tight, at the points where heavy gas is to be supplied. In this case, the heavy gas is supplied through the at least one opening. At least one notch can also be provided in the conveyor belt 9, so that the heavy gas can also be blown in from the side. The arrangement of the at least one notch is such that it does not extend over the entire width of the conveyor belt 9. By controlling the movements of the conveyor belt 9, starting from a predetermined starting point and taking into account the length of the insulating glass pane 10 measured in the conveying direction (arrow 25), it can easily be achieved that the at least one opening or notch in the conveyor belt 9 comes to rest at the point , on which a nozzle (symbolized by arrows 156 and / or 157) is arranged so that heavy gas can be introduced.

As soon as the filling process has ended, the plate 2 is pushed forward until the glass pane 13 held on it and supported at the bottom by support fingers (movable) from below rests on the spacer 14.

If the device with the plates 1 and 2 simultaneously designed as a press for the flat pressing of insulating glass panes 10 is, the insulating glass panel 10 can also be pressed immediately. Possible constructions for such a press and the drive for moving the movable press plate 2 are known from DE-31 30 645 Al and the Austrian patent application 2956/87 published on June 15, 1990. The drives described there (rack and pinion drives or spindle drives) can be used instead of the pressure medium cylinders 5, 6.

After the pressing process is finished, the movable plate 2, after the application of negative pressure via the line 12 'has ended, is moved away from the plate 1 which is fixed in the machine frame and the pressed-in, heavy gas-filled insulating glass pane 10, consisting of the the two glass panes 11 and 12 and the spacer 14 inserted between them is transported away from the conveyor belt 9 and, for example, fed to a sealing station.

It should also be pointed out that the sealing device 31 is resilient in the direction perpendicular to the plates 1 and 2, so that it does not hinder the movement of the plates 1 and 2 towards one another and nevertheless into their sealing position (FIGS. 14 and 15 ) can be moved.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 from the lower edge associated with the movable plate 2 can be used in all the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16 and 19 to 22.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, a sealing strip 170 is provided over the entire length of the movable plate 2. The sealing strip 170 is carried, for example, by at least two pressure medium cylinders 171 and carries an elongated seal 175 on its side facing the lower edge of the plate 2 and the guide strip 172, on which the upper run 173 of the conveyor belt 9 slides. The seal 175 is in FIG Fig. 17 shown embodiment formed as a hose seal and consists for example of elastically deformable plastic. To increase the sealing effect, the seal 175 can, as soon as the sealing strip 170 in its The operative position, in which the seal 175 rests on the lower edge of the movable plate 2 and on the guide bar 172, is put under pressure.

It should also be pointed out that the guide bar 172 of the conveying device 9 is continuously connected at its end opposite the seal, for example via a bar 176, to the fixed plate 1, so that a gas-tight seal is also guaranteed there.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, an elastically deformable sealing tab 180 is provided continuously on the movable plate 2, specifically at its lower edge, which, when the movable plate 2 is pushed forward, is located on the edge of the guide strip 172 arranged below the movable plate 2 of the conveyor belt 9 creates.

The sealing tab 180 shown in FIG. 18 can also be designed as an inflatable tube seal.

An embodiment is also conceivable in which a seal designed as a corrugated tube is mounted on the lower edge of the movable press plate 2 and is pressurized so that the seal is attached to the movable press plate 2 from the side and / or from above adjacent edge of the guide bar 172 of the conveyor 9 creates as soon as the movable plate 2 is arranged in the position in which heavy gas is introduced.

19 and 20 show an embodiment for an arrangement for supplying heavy gas. In this embodiment, a longitudinal channel 122 is fastened below the carrier 120 for the guideway 172 of the longitudinally divided conveyor belt 9 (in the example two endless toothed belts 121) of the conveyor device. Bores 124 extend from the interior 123 of the channel 122, which align with bores 125 in the carrier 120 and finally lead to pipe sections 126 which penetrate the gap between the two toothed belts 121 of the conveyor belt 9. The pipe sections 126 open into space 8 between the two plates 1 and 2 and in particular between the two Glass panes 11 and 13 of the insulating glass pane 10 which has not yet been assembled.

Instead of the openings 124, 125, 126, through which the interior 123 of the channel 122 communicates with the space 8 between the two plates 1 and 2 (in FIG. 19, the movable plate 2 is located during filling in the position shown in FIG. 13 or 14 shown position, ie it holds the glass pane 11), can also be provided as a series of longitudinal slots or a continuous slot.

The interior 123 of the channel 122 is connected to a source of heavy gas, noble gas, sulfur hexafluoride or the like via a connecting line (not shown).

By the effective length of the interior 123 of the channel 122, via the heavy gas via the openings 124, 125, 126 into the interior of the insulating glass pane 10, i.e. the space 8 flows between the two glass panes 11 and 13, to adapt to the length of the insulating glass pane 10 measured in the horizontal direction, that is to say parallel to the longitudinal extent of the channel 122, a displaceable piston 130 (FIG. 21) is accommodated therein. The piston 130 is sealed off from the channel 122 by two seals 131. A projection 135, which is connected to the piston 130, projects outward through a longitudinal slot 134 in the region of the channel 122 opposite the openings 124. The piston 130 in the channel 122 can be adjusted via this extension 135, so that the interior 123 of the channel 122 has the desired length, that is, the length over which heavy gas is to flow out of the channel 122.

The slot 134 in the channel 122 is sealed by a seal 136 which in the area of the piston 130, i.e. in the area between the two seals 131 (unpressurized space) is deflected inwards and is carried out under the shoulder 135. In this way, the piston 130 can be adjusted as desired without the tightness of the channel 122 being impaired to the outside by the slot 134.

It is preferred that the displacement of the piston 130 be above it Approach 135 is combined with the adjustment of the movable seal 31.

The device for introducing heavy gas with the channel 122 assigned to the conveyor track 9 can be used in all of the described embodiments. This is particularly the case when heavy gas is only introduced from below into the space 8 between the plates 1 and 2, that is to say into the insulating glass pane 10.

The invention is applicable to insulating glass panes 10 consisting of two or more than two glass panes. To manufacture insulating glass panes that consist of three glass panes, one first produces a double pane consisting of two glass panes in the manner described, covers it with a further spacer frame, attaches a third glass pane to this and carries out a further filling process with heavy gas in the described Way through.

In addition, insulating glass panes can be made from three glass panes in which only one space is filled with heavy gas.

The invention is not only applicable to flat glass panes, but also to curved glass panes such as those e.g. for insulating glass panes for vehicles, e.g. Automobiles are used.

In summary, the invention can be represented as follows, for example:

In the case of a device for filling insulating glass panes 10 which have not yet been pressed with heavy gas, a sealing device 80 which can be displaced between the plates of the device is provided and is displaceably guided by slides 90, 91 on guide rails 92, 93 mounted on the plate 2. The sealing device 80 can be pivoted with the aid of a drive 100 about a horizontal axis 99, so that from a position in which it forms an acute angle with the front side 102 of the plate 2, in which position it is displaced along the plate 2, in their active position swiveled in which it is aligned parallel to the front 102 of the plate 2. The sealing device provided on the outlet-side edge of the plates can be moved via parallelogram links, so that it can be moved from a standby position arranged next to the plates into a sealing position lying against the vertical edges of the plates.

Claims (16)

Device for filling insulating glass panes (10) with heavy gas, with plates (1, 2) arranged on either side of the insulating glass pane (10) that are substantially perpendicular, of which at least one (2) is transverse to its plane relative to the other plate (1) is displaceable, with a substantially gas-tight conveying device (9) for insulating glass panes (10) in the region of the lower edge of the plates (1, 2), and with sealing devices (30, 31, 80), which in their operative position are assigned to both vertical edges of the insulating glass pane (10), one of the sealing devices (31, 80) being displaceable parallel to the plane of the plates (1, 2), characterized in that the sealing device (31, 80) which can be displaced in the conveying direction (arrow 25) ) is mounted with its ends on slides (90, 91) which can be moved parallel to the upper and lower horizontal edge of the one plate (2). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriages (90, 91) are attached to endless conveyor belts (94) and can be displaced on guide rails (92, 93). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing device (31, 80) at its lower end with the slide (91) which can be displaced along the lower horizontal edge of the plate (2) about an axis which is aligned parallel to the conveying direction (arrow 25) (99) is pivotally attached, and that the sealing device (31, 80) can be moved back and forth at its upper end towards the opposite plate (1). Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing device (80) is essentially cuboid, that the sealing device (80) between two support plates (81, 82) has an elastically compressible body (84), and that the Sealing device (80) with one of its narrow sides against the facing edges of the glass panes (11, 13) Insulating glass pane (10) can be put on. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that sealing strips (85, 87), in particular those made of rubber-elastic material, are provided on the narrow side of the sealing device (80) facing the insulating glass pane (10). Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that one of the sealing strips is L-shaped in cross-section (85) and one of its legs extends from the resiliently flexible material to the narrow side (90) of the body (84) facing the insulating glass pane (10) extends. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the sealing strips (85, 87) protrude beyond the narrow side (90) of the sealing device (80) facing the insulating glass pane (10). Device according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that one (81) of the two support plates (81, 82) has an edge (83) which projects beyond the body (84) from an elastically flexible material. Device according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the body (84) made of resilient material is a body made of foam plastic. Device according to one of Claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the sealing device (80) is fastened to the slide (90, 91) via the support plate (83) facing the plate (2) along which it can be displaced. Device according to one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that the pivot axis (99) at the lower end of the sealing device (80) is aligned with the adjacent plate (2) in such a way that the sealing strip (85) facing the plate (2) the other plate (1) facing surface (102) of the plate (2) immediately adjacent is. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 11, in which the sealing device (30) provided on the outlet side in relation to the conveying direction (arrow 25) of the conveying device (9) can be pulled back and forth transversely to the plane of the fixed plate (1), characterized in that the sealing device (30) can be placed against the vertical, outlet-side edges (105, 106) of the two plates (1, 2). Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the sealing device (30) can be applied to the edges (105, 106) of the plates (1, 2) by a pivoting movement. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the sealing device (30) is attached to an arm (107) which is adjustably mounted in the machine frame by means of parallelogram links (108, 109). Device according to claim 14, characterized in that one arm (107) is provided at each of the lower and upper ends of the sealing device (30) and is mounted in the machine frame via parallelogram links (108, 109). Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the parallelogram links (108, 109) are coupled to a shaft (112) to which a drive (110, 111) for rotating the shaft is assigned.

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