Hanging register storage for a bending machine for spacer frames of insulating glass panes

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a storage system for spacer profiles, from which spacer frames for insulating glass panes are bent in a conventional manner using a bending machine. Insulating glass panes contain several glass panels, which are held apart by a spacer frame arranged along their edge to ensure a gas-filled space between the glass panels. Hollow profiles have long been used to produce spacer frames; these are bent into frames according to the desired pane dimensions. The cavity within the spacer profiles is then filled with a desiccant. The bending and filling of spacer frames has long been known and is described, for example, in DE 44 28 372 A1 and EP 0 635 093 B1.

[0002] The unbent, still straight spacer profiles are stacked sorted according to their dimensions and kept ready in a storage area, for example a shelf, with several storage spaces for one stack each, and from there they are fed to a bending machine.

[0003] From EP 1 314 659 A2 a storage device for spacer profiles is known which is designed as a paternoster-like high rack, so that the individual compartments of the high rack can be brought into a removal position as required, in which spacer profiles can then be automatically removed from the relevant compartment of the high rack.

[0004] EP 0 407 703 A1 discloses a rack storage system for cassettes containing rod- or plate-shaped material. A crane is attached to the rack to place cassettes in and remove them from the rack compartments.

[0005] The present invention is based on the object of creating an improved storage device for unbent spacer profiles, which can be used in combination with an automatic bending machine for spacer frames.

[0006] The object is achieved by a hanging file storage device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0007] The hanging file storage system according to the invention is arranged upstream of an automatic bending machine for spacer frames for insulating glass panes. A required spacer profile can be automatically removed from a storage location and fed to a bending machine. The bending machine can bend this into a spacer frame with the desired dimensions, which can then be filled with desiccant. If an unbent spacer profile is not completely used up, the bending machine can return the remaining piece to the storage location. Feeding to and from the bending machine can take place along the longitudinal direction of the unbent spacer profile.

[0008] The hanging file storage contains several hanging files and a storage station with several storage locations, each for one of the hanging files. Each hanging file has a storage location for a stack of unbent spacer profiles and has a longitudinal direction that runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spacer profiles to be stored therein. The hanging file storage further comprises a removal station with at least one storage location for one of the hanging files and a conveyor device for transporting hanging files between at least one of the storage station's storage locations and the removal station's storage location. The storage station's storage locations can accommodate the hanging files in a hanging position. The storage locations can be stationary or movable within the storage station. The conveyor device can also transport the hanging files in a hanging position.

[0009] The invention has significant advantages: The hanging file storage system has a very simple design and is easy to manufacture. The capacity of the hanging file storage system can be easily adapted to the needs of the user, for example a manufacturer of insulating glass panes. A manufacturer of insulating glass panes produces these in different dimensions, which also include different distances between the individual glass panels, which can range, for example, from 4 mm to 30 mm. Different spacer profiles are required for the different widths between the panes. The number of hanging files in the hanging file storage system is designed based on the number and quantity of required spacer profiles; there is practically no upper limit. Storing hanging files in a storage station, in which the hanging files can be hung in storage spaces, is very simple and space-saving.The removal and transport of hanging files between the receiving locations of the storage station and the receiving location of the removal station is very easy. The hanging file storage system offers high flexibility and significantly reduces bending machine downtime when changing between spacer profiles of different dimensions.

[0010] If several stationary storage locations are arranged within the storage station, the conveyor system can transport hanging files between these storage station locations and the retrieval station location. For example, the conveyor system can be positioned above the storage locations to hang the hanging files in and remove them from adjacent storage locations.

[0011] If several receiving stations are arranged movably within the storage station, the conveyor system can transport hanging files between one of these receiving stations in the storage station and the receiving station in the retrieval station. The receiving stations in the storage station can be arranged on a movable conveyor chain.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the hanging file storage device can have a filling station which has at least one storage location for one of the hanging files and in which a storage location of a hanging file can be filled by an operator, while the bending machine can continue to work in the removal station with a still full hanging file. After filling, the conveyor device can transport this hanging file from the storage location in the filling station back to a free storage location in the storage station or directly to the removal station. This means that the bending machine does not have to come to a standstill while storage locations are being filled. To minimize space requirements and ensure good accessibility, it can be advantageous to arrange the filling station on the side of the storage station opposite the removal station.

[0013] In contrast to the receiving stations of the storage station, the receiving station of the retrieval station can accommodate the hanging file in a position tilted around the longitudinal direction of the spacer profiles. The bending machine usually processes the spacer profile in such a way that the side surfaces of the spacer profile are inclined to the vertical, and has a support surface for the bent spacer frame that is inclined backwards from the vertical and can, for example, have an angle of 6° to 45° to the vertical. This ensures that the bent spacer frame remains lying on the support surface of its own accord and does not tip forward. To hold a hanging file in a position tilted around its longitudinal direction, the receiving station of the retrieval station can have a support surface inclined with respect to the vertical.The hanging file storage unit can be removed from the storage station while hanging from the conveyor system and placed from above onto the inclined support surface of the receiving area in the removal station. A lower section of the hanging file slides along the support surface for a short distance and guides the hanging file into a tilted position. The hanging file can be positioned in the receiving area of ​​the removal station simply by its own weight being supported by the inclined support surface. A stop in the receiving area of ​​the removal station prevents the hanging file from sliding off the support surface. Complex mechanisms for tilting the hanging file or for tilting the spacers removed from the storage area are therefore not required. The inclined stack during removal can simplify the conveyance of the spacer profile between the storage area and the bending machine, as well as processing there.At the same time, each hanging file can be designed to be very narrow, measured perpendicular to its length, allowing for space-saving suspension of the hanging files in the storage station in a manner in which the spacer profiles in the hanging file are stacked vertically on top of each other. Compared to storing the spacer profiles in stacks that are already tilted at the desired angle for easy retrieval, this significantly reduces the space required while maintaining the same number of storage locations.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the receiving location of the removal station can have a clamping and lifting device for a spacer profile located in a hanging file accommodated in the receiving location of the removal station. The clamping and lifting device can be used to grasp the second-to-bottom spacer profile in the stack of spacer profiles and lift it slightly, so that the bottommost spacer profile of the stack can be conveyed unhindered along its length from the hanging file storage to the bending machine by means of an automatic conveyor device. Furthermore, the clamping and lifting device ensures that any remainder of an unbent spacer profile not required in the bending machine can be returned to the bottommost position in the stack by the automatic conveyor device.The clamping and lifting device can then be lowered and opened again, for example to transport the hanging file from the receiving location of the removal station to the storage station.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the removal station can have several, in particular three, receiving locations. The receiving locations of the removal station can be displaced horizontally, i.e., transversely to the longitudinal direction of the hanging files or spacer profiles. This allows the time the bending machine is idle during a change of removal from different storage locations or hanging files and / or a change between spacer profiles of different dimensions to be further reduced with little effort. The downtime of the bending machine can be reduced to the time required to move the receiving locations of the removal station from one position to another.

[0016] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments in conjunction with the figures. They show: Figure 1 is a schematic oblique view of a hanging register storage device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the hanging register storage device of the Figure 1 , Figure 3a side view similar Figure 2 on the hanging file storage at another time, Figure 4 a view similar Figure 1 on a variant of a hanging register storage according to the invention, Figure 5 a schematic side view of the hanging register storage of the Figure 4 , Figure 6a opposite Figure 3 or 5 enlarged side view of a removal station of the hanging file storage, Figure 7a opposite Figure 3 or 5 enlarged side view of a filling station of the hanging register storage at a different time, Figure 8 a section of the removal station of the Figure 6, Figure 9a view similar Figure 8 at another time.

[0017] In the figures, a hanging file storage 1 for unbent spacer profiles 2 is shown schematically and not to scale. The hanging file storage 1 is assigned to an automatic bending machine (not shown), which produces the sections 2 along the arrow A (see Figures 1 and 4) taken spacer profiles 2 into spacer frames, which are used in the manufacture of insulating glass panes to keep two glass panels at a distance, so that a gas-filled space remains between them. The hanging file storage 1 is not shown to scale in the figures to clarify the invention, since its various dimensions actually differ by several orders of magnitude. The spacer profiles 2 have a length of several meters and a width that corresponds to the desired gap between the insulating glass panes and can be in the range of 4 mm to 30 mm. Spacer profiles 2 with a width of 24 mm are frequently used. The Figures 2 , 3 and 5The apparent width of the hanging file storage 1, which contains a storage station 3, a removal station 4 and a filling station 5, is also in the order of several meters. The hanging file storage 1 contains several hanging files 6, whereby in the Figures 1 to 3a configuration with ten hanging files 6 is shown. The storage station 3 then contains ten storage locations 30, each for a hanging file 6. In the storage station 3, for example, five hanging files 6 per meter can be stored next to each other, so that the storage station 3 shown with ten storage locations 30 can have a width of approximately 2 m. The removal station 4 has three storage locations 40, each for a hanging file 6, and the filling station 5 has one storage location 50. The width of the storage station and the width of the filling station 5 can each be approximately 1 m. The hanging file storage 1 contains a conveyor device 7 for transporting hanging files 6 between the storage locations 30 and 40 or 50. In particular, the number of hanging files 6 and the storage locations 30 is adapted according to the required storage capacity.If required, several rows of receiving positions 30 can also be arranged one above the other in a manner not shown, with each row then being assigned its own conveyor device 7.

[0018] In the Figures 4 and 5In the variant of the hanging file storage system 1 shown, the receiving locations 30 of the storage station 3 are arranged on two conveyor chains 32. Each conveyor chain 32 is guided by two deflection rollers 33. At least one of the deflection rollers 33 can be rotated in a manner not shown by means of a drive device (not shown). As a result, the conveyor chains 32 move with the receiving locations 30 and the hanging files 6 hanging in the receiving locations 30 in the manner of a paternoster. When the required receiving location 30 reaches the area accessible by the gripping device 70 of the conveyor device 7, the movement of the conveyor chains 32 is stopped. The conveyor device 7 can remove the required hanging file 6 from the storage station 3 and transport it to one of the receiving locations 40 and back again.The arrangement of the receiving locations 30 on the conveyor chains 32 can further reduce the width of the hanging file storage 1 and reduce the floor space required for the hanging file storage 1.

[0019] Especially in the Figures 6 and 7 It can be seen that each hanging file 6 has a storage space 60 for a stack 61 of spacer profiles 2. In Figure 61 shows a stack 61 containing 16 spacer profiles 2, which is secured against tipping by guides 62 and 63. The guide 62 is essentially L-shaped in cross-section. The guide 63 is displaceable with respect to the guide 62 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the spacer profiles 2 in order to be able to adapt the storage space 60 to spacer profiles 2 of different widths. In the upper area of ​​the hanging file 6, a suspension 64 is arranged at each of its ends, with which the hanging file 6 can be suspended in a receiving space 30 of the storage station 3. The receiving spaces 30 are located on two parallel supports 31 (see Figures 1 and 2 ) or on two parallel conveyor chains 32 (see Figures 4 and 5 ), on which the suspensions 64 of the hanging files 6 rest.

[0020] The conveyor device 7 in the Figures 1 to 3The hanging file storage 1 shown is arranged above the receiving positions 30, 40, 50 and contains two vertically and horizontally movable gripping devices 70, with which a hanging file 6 can be moved from its receiving position 30 upwards in the direction of arrow B, see Figure 2 , can be lifted out of the storage station 3. The conveyor device 7 contains two guideways 71 extending above the storage station 3, the removal station 4 and the filling station 5, which extend parallel to each other and essentially across the entire width of the hanging file storage 1. The gripping devices 70 grip the hanging file 6 at its suspensions 64 in such a way that the suspensions 64 act as pivot points around which the hanging file 6 hanging in the gripping device 70 can be tilted. After the hanging file 6 has been lifted over the storage station 3, the gripping devices 70 are moved on the guideways 71 in direction C to the removal station 4, see Figure 3There, the gripping devices 70 lower the hanging file 6 and place it on a free receiving location 40. Alternatively, the conveyor device 7 can also transport the hanging file 6 removed from the storage station 3 to the filling station 5, where the gripping devices 70 place it on the receiving location 50, see Figure 5 so that its storage space 60 can be refilled by a machine operator.

[0021] The conveyor device 7 in the Figures 4 and 5 The hanging register memory 1 shown is designed according to the Figures 1 to 3 shown conveyor device 7 and serves to transport hanging files 6 between the receiving positions 40 and a receiving position 30. The hanging file storage 1 of the Figures 4 and 5also contains a second conveyor device 7' for transporting hanging files 6 between the receiving location 50 and a receiving location 30. The conveyor device 7' is designed in the same way as the conveyor device 7.

[0022] Each of the three receiving positions 40 contains a support surface 41 inclined with respect to the vertical for holding a hanging file 6 in a position tilted about its longitudinal direction, see in particular Figure 4 The three receiving positions 40 are arranged on a horizontally displaceable carriage 42, which is moved by means of a drive device 43 from its Figure 4 shown center position to the left or right. The removal A along the longitudinal direction takes place from the hanging register 6, which is located at a schematically indicated removal position D. In Figure 4The hanging file 6 located at the middle receiving station 40 is at the removal position D. From this hanging file 6, the lowest spacer profile 2 is conveyed out in the removal direction A and fed to the bending machine. At the same time, another hanging file 6 can be fetched from the storage station 3 by the conveyor device 7, which contains spacer profiles 2 with the dimensions next required by the bending machine. This file 6 is lowered by the gripping device 70 onto the left receiving station 40 and rests on its support surface 41. When the gripping device 70 is lowered, a lower section of the hanging file 6 slides along the inclined support surface 41 and guides the hanging file 6 into a position tilted about its longitudinal direction, see Figure 4. Each receiving location 40 contains a stop 44 at the lower end of the support surface 41, which prevents the hanging file 6 from sliding further down from the support surface 41. Due to its own weight, the hanging file 6 remains on the support surface 41 and the stop 44. This procedure combines, in a very simple manner, a very space-saving vertical storage of the stacks 61 of spacer profiles 2 with a provision of the spacer profiles 2 in a position tilted about their longitudinal direction, which is advantageous for the bending machine.

[0023] While the bending machine is still being supplied with spacer profiles 2 from the middle receiving position 40, another hanging file 6 has been placed on the left receiving position 40. In order to be able to feed the bending machine with the next required spacer profile 2 from the left receiving position 40, the carriage 42 is moved from its central position to Figure 4to the right, so that the hanging file 6 located on the left receiving position 40 is pushed into the removal position D, at which the lowest spacer profile 2 in the direction of arrow A, see Figure 1 , which can be fed to the bending machine. In the same way, the Figure 4 A third hanging file 6 can be deposited in the right-hand receiving location 40 and moved to the removal position D by moving the carriage 42 to the left in order to feed spacer profiles 2 from it to the bending machine. During the change from one hanging file 6 to the next, there is therefore only a very short interruption to the bending machine, which corresponds to the time required for the horizontal displacement of the carriage 42. The considerably longer time required for the transport of hanging files 6 into or out of the storage station 3 does not lead to an interruption in operation of the bending machine.

[0024] The removal station 4 contains a clamping and lifting device 80, which is assigned to the removal position D and remains there when the carriage 42 is moved. The clamping and lifting device 80 serves to clamp and lift a spacer profile 2 of the stack 61, see in particular Figures 6 and 7The clamping and lifting device 80 contains a clamping tong 81 with two movable clamping jaws 82. So that the lowest spacer profile 2 of the stack 61 can be fed to the bending machine, the clamping tong 81 with its clamping jaws 82 is moved from a rest position located below the carriage 42 in the direction of arrow E to the second-lowest spacer profile 2. The clamping jaws 82 are closed and grip the second-lowest spacer profile 2. The clamping jaws 82 are then moved slightly in the direction of arrow F, and the second-lowest spacer profile 2 and the stack 61 above it are lifted so that the lowest spacer profile 2 is exposed and can be fed to the bending machine without hindrance.In addition, the raised stack 61 ensures that an unused remainder of the bottommost spacer profile 2 can be transported back from the bending machine to the hanging register 6 without the remaining spacer profiles 2 of the stack 61 hindering the return. Subsequently, the clamping and lifting device 80 is retracted, and the raised stack 61 is deposited again.

[0025] The hanging file storage 1 contains a control unit that controls the drive device 43, the conveyor device 7, the clamping and lifting device 80, and, if applicable, the conveyor chains 32. The control unit of the hanging file storage 1 stores, for each of the hanging files 6, the dimensions of the spacer profiles 2 stored therein and the receiving location 30 in which it is stored. The hanging file storage 1 can thus provide the bending machine with the required spacer profiles 2 in the required order. List of reference symbols

[0026] 1 Hanging file storage A Withdrawal direction 2 spacer profile B Direction 3 storage station C Direction 4 Collection station D Removal position 5 filling station E Direction 6 Hanging files F Direction 7, 7' conveyor system 30 Recording location 31 carrier 32 conveyor chains 33 pulleys 40 Recording location 41 Support surface 42 Sleds 43 drive device 44 stop 50 Recording location 60 Storage space 61 stack 62 guide 63 guide 64 suspension 70, 70' gripping device 71, 71' guideway 80 clamping and lifting device 81 clamp pliers 82 clamping jaw

Claims

1. A hanging register storage unit for a bending machine for spacer frames of insulating glass panes, said storage unit comprising several hanging registers, each comprising a storage for a stack of unbent spacer profiles, a storage station comprising several receiving places, one for each of the hanging registers, characterized in that the hanging register storage unit comprises a removal station comprising at least one receiving place for one of the hanging registers, and a conveyor device for taking a hanging register out of one of the receiving places of the storage station and for transporting hanging registers between at least one of the receiving places of the storage station and the receiving place of the removal station.

2. The hanging register storage unit according to claim 1, comprising a filling station, particularly arranged on a side of the storage station that is opposite of the removal station, which filling station comprises at least one receiving place for one of the hanging registers.

3. The hanging register storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving places of the storage station are configured to receive the hanging registers in a suspended position.

4. The hanging register storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving place of the removal station has a contact surface inclined in relation to the vertical in order to retain a hanging register in a position tilted around its longitudinal direction.

5. The hanging register storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal station comprises a clamping and hoisting device for a spacer profile, which is located in a hanging register received on the receiving place of the removal station.

6. The hanging register storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal station comprises several receiving places.

7. The hanging register storage unit according to claim 6, wherein the receiving places of the removal station are arranged on a movable, in particular horizontally movable, carriage.

8. The hanging register storage unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving places of the storage station are arranged on at least one movable conveyor chain.