Device for processing a multi-glazing unit

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of glazing for buildings for interior and exterior applications and more specifically, to the recycling of used multiple glazing (double or triple glazing). The invention relates in particular to a device for treating multiple glazing, as well as the associated treatment method.

[0002] The recycling of multiple glazings is today a problem of prime importance, with the challenges of reducing the cost of vitrifiable raw materials and reducing the environmental footprint of newly manufactured products.

[0003] Such multiple glazing units (windows) are generally in the form of double glazing or triple glazing. Double glazing is defined as a set of two panes of glass spaced apart and separated by a gas or vacuum layer, and triple glazing is defined as a set of three panes of glass spaced apart and separated by two respective gas or vacuum layers. Traditionally, the panes are separated in pairs by a metal spacer frame, usually aluminum, and by sealing gaskets to ensure the gas layers are watertight.

[0004] In a recycling problem for the manufacture of flat glass, it is now necessary to separate the glass from the other (non-glass) components of the multiple glazing. Such separation is traditionally carried out mechanically, that is to say via a direct contact action, and involves the fragmentation of the glazing making up said used window, as evidenced by patent document WO2020 / 002640. Another device for treating used multiple glazing is described in document FR 3 083 148 A1.

[0005] However, field experience has shown that during the mechanical fragmentation of multiple glazings, for example using hammers, a significant amount of glass remains attached to the interlayer frame, amounting to approximately 25% of the total mass of the glazing contained in a window. In the particular case of windows incorporating laminated glazing and / or flexible interlayer frames, which absorb part of the fragmentation energy, the proportion of glazing remaining attached to the frame, and therefore not recovered, is greater than 50%, resulting in an equivalent loss of efficiency.

[0006] The invention aims to address the drawbacks described above. More particularly, in at least one embodiment, the proposed technique relates to a device for processing used multiple glazing, comprising a conveying assembly adapted for flat transport of said multiple glazing, and a fragmentation assembly adapted for fragmenting the glazings of said multiple glazing during said transport, said processing device being characterized in that it comprises an assembly for cutting the glazings of said multiple glazing arranged upstream of said fragmentation assembly.

[0007] Throughout the description, glass fragmentation refers to the action of breaking, splintering, crushing, or shattering the glazing of a used multiple glazing unit (a window). Intuitively and for illustrative purposes, the front and rear, as well as the upstream and downstream of the device, are defined along the longitudinal axis of the conveyor assembly, which is thus defined as a mechanical device adapted to transport a used window flat, from its rear end (located upstream) to its front end (located downstream). Such a conveyor assembly is preferably formed of one or more belt or belt conveyors.

[0008] For the purposes of the invention, the generic term "cutting" refers to the physical division of a previously joined assembly. By this action, the glass of a multiple glazing unit can thus be separated, detached, disunited, disjointed, disassembled from its frame. The term "cutting" also encompasses the action of notching the surface of the glass, in order to physically delimit the portion of the glazing intended to be separated from the frame. This is called pre-cutting the glazing.

[0009] The arrangement of a glazing cutting unit upstream of the fragmentation unit makes it possible to limit the quantity of glass remaining attached to the frame at the end of treatment, and thus to increase the percentage of glass recovered from each multiple glazing unit treated.

[0010] According to a particular embodiment, said multiple glazing is double or triple glazing for the building, which preferably comprises at least one laminated, tempered and / or annealed glazing.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment, said cutting assembly comprises a mechanical, laser and / or water jet type cutting system.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment, said cutting assembly is of the mechanical type and comprises a series of wheels / discs or segmented wheels (diamond or other) which preferably move either by oscillation or on a rail in a single movement to create the fracture in the glass.

[0013] When processing laminated glass, the use of a laser-type cutting system has the advantage of allowing the interlayer film to be at least partially degraded, in order to make subsequent fragmentation of the glazing easier.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment, said cutting system is mounted on a movable arm above and / or below the multiple glazing. According to an alternative embodiment, said cutting system is mounted on a frame whose dimensions are adjustable to those of the multiple glazing to be cut.

[0015] According to a particular embodiment, said cutting assembly comprises a visual detection system adapted to determine geometric dimensions of the glazing of the multiple glazing.

[0016] According to a particular embodiment, said visual detection system comprises at least one camera and a processing module adapted to determine from one or more images transmitted by the camera, the geometric dimensions of the glazing integrated in said multiple glazing.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment, said visual detection system is also suitable for determining whether said multiple glazing comprises laminated glazing and / or tempered glazing.

[0018] A processing device thus adapted for the detection of particular glazings can accordingly modify the processing method to be implemented, depending on the multiple glazing to be treated. Thus, in the presence of laminated glazing, to which an interlayer film gives increased resistance to fragmentation, the step of cutting the glazing proves to be essential, while the subsequent fragmentation step is optional. In contrast, in the presence of tempered or annealed glazing, which is more difficult to cut and tends, if necessary, to break into a multitude of small fragments, it is preferable not to implement the cutting step, and to limit oneself to the fragmentation step alone.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment, said cutting assembly comprises a holding system adapted to immobilize said multiple glazing during the cutting step.

[0020] According to a particular embodiment, said holding system is in the form of a frame adjustable to the dimensions of the glazing.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment, said processing device comprises at least one device for selective sorting of the intermediate frame of said multiple glazing, arranged between said cutting assembly and said fragmentation assembly.

[0022] The term "selective sorting" means any action enabling the collection, recovery and extraction of the frame(s) of the multiple glazing in order to remove it and separate it spatially from the previously cut glazing.

[0023] The arrangement of such a selective sorting device downstream of the cutting assembly, and upstream of the fragmentation assembly, makes it possible to extract the frame before the fragmentation step, in order to limit the risks of pollution of the fragmented glass by components of said frame.

[0024] According to a particular embodiment, the selective sorting device comprises a magnet, which makes it possible to isolate the metal interlayer frames from the cut glazing. According to alternative embodiments, the sorting device implements an optical detection system coupled with an ejection system by bar or air jet.

[0025] According to a particular embodiment, said treatment device has a width of less than 2.55 meters, a length of less than 6.20 meters, and a height of less than 3 meters.

[0026] A treatment device satisfying such dimensional constraints can advantageously be transported to a deconstruction site in a truck container.

[0027] According to a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a treatment method characterized in that it comprises a step of treating a used multiple glazing unit by means of a treatment device comprising a conveying assembly adapted for the flat transport of said multiple glazing unit, and a fragmentation assembly adapted for fragmenting the glazing units of said multiple glazing unit during said transport, said treatment device comprising an assembly for cutting the glazing units of said multiple glazing unit arranged upstream of said fragmentation assembly.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment, said processing method implements said cutting assembly for a step of cutting the glazing of said multiple glazing near their visible edges.

[0029] For the purposes of the invention, the visible edges of the glazing of a window designate the peripheral edges of these glazings as perceived by an external observer, and thus correspond to the limit between said glazings and their intermediate frame. A person skilled in the art will know how to adjust or program the exact positioning of the cutting tools near these visible edges, so that, taking into account the margins of error of said tools, a maximum of glass is cut without removing portions of the intermediate frame. In practice, the distance separating the cutting zone from the visible edges is of the order of a millimeter.

[0030] According to a particular embodiment, said processing method comprises a step of visually determining the geometric dimensions of the glazing of the multiple glazing prior to said cutting step.

[0031] It is thus possible to automate the step of cutting the glazing near its visible edges.

[0032] According to a particular embodiment, said treatment method comprises a step of selective sorting of the interlayer frame of said multiple glazing, subsequent to the cutting step and prior to the fragmentation step.

[0033] According to a particular embodiment, said treatment method comprises a subsequent step of separate collection of the fragmented glass on the one hand, and of the frame of said window on the other hand. The glass and the frame being of different composition, their separate collection, for example in separate receptacles or bins, makes it easier to recycle them.

[0034] According to a particular embodiment, at least one of the cutting and fragmentation steps is implemented, depending on the multiple glazing to be treated.

[0035] According to a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a computer program downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a recording medium adapted to be read by a computer and executed by a processor, comprising an instruction code for implementing such a processing method.

[0036] This program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or code intermediate between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form.

[0037] According to a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a computer recording medium, on which such a computer program is recorded.

[0038] The recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a read-only memory, a rewritable non-volatile memory, for example a USB key, an SD card, an EEPROM, or a magnetic recording means, for example a hard disk. The recording medium may also be an integrated circuit in which the program is incorporated, the circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the method. The recording medium may be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, which may be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by radio or by other means. The program according to the invention may in particular be downloaded onto a computer network.

[0039] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of particular embodiments, given as simple illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the appended figures, for which: [ Figure 1 ] There figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a fragmentation device according to a particular embodiment of the invention; [ Figure 2 ] There figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a cutting device implemented in a fragmentation device according to a particular embodiment of the invention; [ Figure 3 ] There figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a cutting device implemented in a fragmentation device according to a particular embodiment of the invention; [ Figure 4 ] There figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the successive steps of a method for treating multiple glazing according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

[0040] The various elements illustrated by the figures are not necessarily represented to actual scale, the emphasis being more on representing the general operation of the invention.

[0041] In the various figures, unless otherwise indicated, reference numbers which are like represent similar or identical elements.

[0042] As illustrated by the Figure 1 , a device 1 for treating a used multiple glazing unit 2, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, comprises a conveying assembly 3 adapted for the flat transport of the multiple glazing unit 2, and a fragmentation assembly 4 adapted for fragmenting the glazing units 2' of said multiple glazing unit 2 during said transport. Said treatment device 1 comprises in particular a cutting assembly 5 for the glazing units 2' of said multiple glazing unit 2 arranged upstream of said fragmentation assembly 4.

[0043] There Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the successive steps of a treatment method implementing such a device. During a first step not illustrated, a multiple glazing unit 2 is loaded at the rear end of the treatment device 1, onto a conveyor 6 of the cutting assembly 5. An optical detection device, in this case a camera 7, is then used to determine (step S1) the positioning, dimensions and nature of the multiple glazing unit 2. The different glazing units 2' integrated in the multiple glazing unit 2 are then cut (step S2) at the periphery, close to the inner edge of their intermediate frame 8, to be separated therefrom.

[0044] According to the particular embodiment illustrated in the Figure 1 , such a cutting step S2 is carried out by means of a mobile laser 9. Such a cutting system 9 can however take different forms. Thus, according to alternative embodiments, the cutting system 5 is of the water jet type and is driven either by a mechanical arm or by a frame adjustable to the dimensions of the multiple glazing 2, as illustrated respectively by the Figures 2 And 3 . Throughout this cutting step S2, the multiple glazing 2 is preferably held in position via a dedicated device.

[0045] Once the glazings 2' have been separated from the intermediate frame 8, a selective sorting step (step S3) is implemented, during which the intermediate frame, which in this case is metallic, is extracted from the process by means of an electromagnet 10. According to alternative embodiments, and in particular when the intermediate frame is made of plastic, the selective sorting is implemented via an optical detection system coupled to an ejection system by bar or air jet. The cut glazings 2' are transferred onto a second conveyor 3 in order to be brought to the level of the fragmentation assembly 4. According to a particular embodiment, and as illustrated by the Figure 1 , such a fragmentation assembly comprises a rotating cylinder equipped with a plurality of hammers which strike and fragment (step S4) the glazing 2' into a multitude of glass debris 2" which are collected downstream.

[0046] According to a particular embodiment, at least one of the cutting steps S3 and fragmentation steps S4 is implemented, depending on the multiple glazing 2 to be treated. Thus, in the presence of a laminated glazing, to which an interlayer film gives increased resistance to fragmentation, the step of cutting the glazing is implemented without a subsequent step of fragmenting the cut glazings 2'. In contrast, in the presence of a tempered or annealed glazing, which is more difficult to cut and tends, if necessary, to break into a multitude of small fragments, the cutting step is not implemented and the entire multiple glazing is directly transferred to the fragmentation assembly, to be fragmented there.

Claims

1. A device (1) for processing a used multiple glazed unit (2), comprising a conveying assembly (3) suitable for the flat transport of said multiple glazed unit (2), and a fragmentation assembly (4) suitable for fragmenting the glazed units (2') of said multiple glazed unit (2) during said transport, said processing device (1) being characterized in that it comprises an assembly (5) for cutting the glazed units (2') from said multiple glazed unit (2) arranged upstream of said fragmentation assembly (4).

2. The processing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said cutting assembly (5) comprises a mechanical, laser and / or water jet cutting system (9).

3. The processing device (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said cutting assembly (5) comprises a visual detection system (7) suitable for determining the geometric dimensions of the glazed units (2') for the multiple glazed unit (2).

4. The processing device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said visual detection system (7) is also suitable for determining whether said multiple glazed unit (2) comprises a laminated glazed unit and / or a tempered glazed unit.

5. The processing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said cutting assembly (5) comprises a holding system suitable for immobilizing said multiple glazed unit (2) during the cutting step.

6. The processing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one device (10) for the selective sorting of the spacer frame (8) of said multiple glazed unit (2), arranged between said cutting assembly (5) and said fragmentation assembly (4).

7. The processing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it has a width less than 2.55 meters, a length less than 6.20 meters, and a height less than 3 meters.

8. A method of processing a used glazed unit, characterized in that it comprises a step of processing a used multiple glazed unit (2) by means of a processing device (1) comprising a conveying assembly (3) suitable for the flat transport of said multiple glazed unit (2), and a fragmentation assembly (4) suitable for fragmenting the glazed units (2') of said multiple glazed unit (2) during said transport, said processing device (1) comprising an assembly (5) for cutting the glazed units (2') from said multiple glazed unit (2) arranged upstream of said fragmentation assembly (4).

9. The method of processing a used glazed unit according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one cutting step (S2) and / or fragmentation step (S4) of the glazed units (2') of said multiple glazed unit is implemented.

10. The method of processing a used glazed unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the cutting step (S2) implements the cutting assembly (5) near the visible edges of said glazed units (2').

11. The method of processing a used glazed unit according to claim 9 and 10, characterized in that it comprises a step (S1) of visually determining the geometric dimensions of the glazed units (2') of the multiple glazed unit (2) prior to said cutting step (S2).

12. The method of processing a used glazed unit according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said processing method comprises a step (S3) of selective sorting of the spacer frame (8) from said multiple glazed unit (2), subsequent to the cutting step (S2) and prior to the fragmentation step (S4).

13. A computer program downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a recording medium suitable for being executed by a processor, comprising an instruction code for implementing a control method according to one of claims 8 to 12.

14. A computer recording medium, on which a computer program according to claim 13 is recorded.