Method and device for filling hollow profile strips with filling material

Abstract

During the filling of spacer frames (11) made of hollow profile strips, molecular sieve is filled into the spacer frame from at least one storage container (5) through a filling opening in the wall of the spacer frame (11). The progress of the filling operation is displayed by an optical display (21) in that the display (21) starts displaying after the filling operation has started and displays the progress of the filling operation by progressively activating illumination means. The end of the filling operation is displayed when no further illumination means are activated.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING HOLLOW PROFILE STRIPS WITH FILLING MATERIAL

[0002] The invention relates to a method for filling hollow profile strips, in particular hollow profile strips which are legs of spacer frames or closed spacer frames, wherein free-flowing filling material, in particular hygroscopic material such as molecular sieve, is introduced into the hollow profile strip from a storage container.

[0003] The invention further relates to a device with which the method according to the invention can be carried out.

[0004] Methods and devices for filling hollow profile strips, in particular hollow profile strips which serve as spacers, in particular in the form of spacer frames, in insulating glass, are known in various embodiments.

[0005] AT 383 581 B discloses a device for filling spacer frames for insulating glass with hygroscopic material. The device comprises holders for the spacer frame to be filled and at least one multiple processing tool, which has a device for creating an opening in the outer wall of the spacer frame, a nozzle for filling the hygroscopic material into the spacer frame, and a nozzle for closing the filling opening.

[0006] Another device for filling spacer frames for insulating glass is known from AT 383 582 B. A device for filling spacer frames for insulating glass with hygroscopic material is described, in which the line connecting a storage container to the outlet opening for the hygroscopic material has a section with a larger cross-section and a section with a smaller cross-section, which is deflected upwards and whose axis is offset upwards relative to the axis of the section with the larger cross-section. This device is used, for example, in a machine for filling spacer frames for insulating glass, which machine has two processing arrangements with which holes are created in the legs of the spacer frame, hygroscopic material is filled in and the holes are closed again.The machining assemblies comprise a plate against which the respective leg of the spacer frame rests and in which a hole for the passage of a drill, as well as the openings of the line for the hygroscopic material and a channel for the sealing compound, are arranged. In order to successively align the legs of the spacer frame, which are gripped by clamping devices, with the hole for the drill and the openings for the channels, the clamping devices and the plate are movable relative to one another.

[0007] Methods and devices for filling spacer frames with filling material (hygroscopic material, such as molecular sieve) are known from AT 388 548 B, AT 390 606 B, EP 0 349 519 A1 and EP 0 376 926 A2.

[0008] From DE 44 02 450 A1 (= EP 0 615 046 A2) a spacer frame is known which consists of a hollow profile strip bent three times and is still open at the fourth corner, with one leg being longer than the other leg leading to the open corner, and which is filled with granular desiccant via a probe inserted into the leg. The front end of the probe projects into the leg up to the desired fill level. As soon as the desiccant in the leg reaches the probe, the inflow of desiccant stops. This is recorded by a sensor. The sensor triggers the withdrawal of the probe. In this case, a vacuum is applied to the probe via a line so that no more desiccant escapes from the probe.EP 0 430 924 A1 (= AT 399 587 B) discloses a bulk current detector for a line through which granular, hygroscopic material to be filled into spacer frames for insulating glass is fed from a storage container to a filling head. The bulk current detector has a light source connected to the line which emits a light beam which crosses the line. A sensor which responds to the light emitted by the light source is arranged opposite the light source. When exposed to the light from the light source, the sensor emits a signal to a control unit which in turn emits a signal if no signal from the sensor is received for a preselected period of time after the last signal emitted by the sensor.

[0009] WO 2017 / 037288 A1 discloses a device for filling a spacer frame with a filling material for producing insulating glazing, wherein at least a) a filling time for the spacer frame is calculated, b) the spacer frame is inserted into a filling device with scales and frame holders, wherein the spacer frame is suspended in suspension devices, c) the spacer frame is filled during the calculated filling time, and d) the spacer frame is weighed and the filling level is determined. When the filling level is > 90%, the filling of the spacer frame is terminated.

[0010] From AT 522 243 A a method and a device for filling spacer frames are known. The known device has a storage container for free-flowing, hygroscopic filling material, such as molecular sieve. A line leads from the storage container and leads to the spacer frame to be filled and opens into a filling opening in the wall of the spacer frame. The amount of filling material filled into the spacer frame is determined by recording the amount of filling material taken from the storage container. The amount of filling material taken from the storage container is recorded by measuring the travel (AH) of a piston which rests under pressure on the filling material in the storage container. The degree of filling is checked by comparing the amount of filling material taken from the storage container with the specified amount of filling material to be filled into the spacer frame.

[0011] EP 3 477 037 A1 discloses a device for filling a spacer frame leg or spacer frame with a flowable filling material, comprising a storage container for receiving the flowable filling material, a charging element arranged downstream of the storage container for filling the spacer frame leg or the spacer frame via a filling opening produced in the spacer frame leg or spacer frame, and a weighing device for determining a weight of the filling material contained in the storage container. By determining the weight loss of the storage container filled with filling material, an indirect determination of the weight of the filling material filled into a spacer frame leg or spacer frame is possible.

[0012] In the known devices, no special display is provided in the area of ​​the hollow profile strip or spacer frame fixed in the holder, which allows monitoring of the filling process, in particular of the successful completion of the filling process. Likewise, in the known methods for filling hollow profile strips or spacer frames used as spacers in insulating glass, no provision is made to indicate the end of the filling process in the area of ​​the hollow profile strip or spacer frame. This makes monitoring the filling process complex. A disadvantage of the known devices is that it happens that the hollow profile strip, in particular the spacer frame, is removed from the device prematurely and the filling process is thus aborted if the operator of the device does not check on the display whether the hollow profile strip orthe legs of the spacer frame are sufficiently filled, i.e. whether the specified filling level has been achieved.

[0013] The invention is based on the object of improving the monitoring of the filling process.

[0014] This object is achieved according to the invention with a method having the features of independent claim 1 and with a device having the features of independent claim 25.

[0015] Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0016] Using the method and device according to the invention, hollow profile strips and spacer frames can be filled with filling material (desiccant). The spacer frames can be spacer frames made from a single-piece hollow profile strip bent at the corners, or spacer frames composed, in particular, of straight pieces of hollow profile strips. In such spacer frames, corner brackets are provided in the corners, which are inserted into the ends of the hollow profile strip forming the legs of the spacer frame.

[0017] The invention provides the operator with additional information about the filling level of the hollow profile strip serving as a spacer or the legs of the spacer frame. The invention provides a visual display, for example, with an optical display device. The visual display provides information about the progress of the filling process and indicates when the filling process is complete. The visual display can also indicate that the filling process has not yet begun.

[0018] The display of the progress and the end and, if applicable, the start of the filling process provided for in the method according to the invention takes place in addition to the displays in a display arranged on the filling device, which serves to control the filling device and in which data relevant for the operation of the filling device can be seen.

[0019] The light sources of the optical display can be LEDs or other optical means, such as colored liquid in a transparent tube.

[0020] In one embodiment, the optical display comprises one row or two rows of lighting means, in particular LEDs, which are arranged substantially vertically or inclined to the vertical at an angle of, for example, 45°.

[0021] The indicator lights, which are arranged, for example, in two vertical rows, are activated one after the other. The indicator lights are activated according to the progress of the filling process and are controlled, for example, by devices for detecting the amount of filling material removed from the at least one storage container, for example by detecting the movements of a piston in the storage container.

[0022] It can be provided that the indicator lights up in red before the start of the filling process and only after the start of the filling process light up in a color contrasting to red, e.g. white or light or green.

[0023] The progress of the filling process is made particularly clear to the operator of the device and can be easily checked if the lamps are activated one after the other, starting from top to bottom.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the visual display of the filling process takes place in the area of ​​the filling device in which the hollow profile strip or spacer frame to be filled is located during the filling process. This way, the visual display is in the operator's field of vision, eliminating the need to move toward the display typically located next to the filling device.

[0025] The filling quantity does not need to be precalculated. It may be provided that the filling process is considered complete when the system's measuring system detects no change in the level of filling material in at least one storage container.

[0026] As soon as the specified and, if applicable, pre-calculated quantity of filling material (for example 50% of the interior space of the hollow profile strip or the spacer frame) has been introduced into the hollow profile strip or the spacer frame, no further lamps are activated, so that it is immediately apparent that the filling process is complete and finished.

[0027] If, for any reason, the filling process is interrupted by a malfunction, no further lights on the visual indicator will be activated, allowing action to be taken to correct the malfunction. The filling process can then continue until the specified and pre-calculated amount of filling material (for example, 50% of the spacer frame's interior) has been reached.

[0028] Often, only two sides of a four-sided (rectangular or square) spacer frame are filled with filler material. Only in special cases are all sides of a four-sided spacer frame completely filled with filler material. This can be done by turning the spacer frame 180° after filling two of the four sides in a first filling process, for example, to completely fill the other two sides in a second filling process.

[0029] In the device and method according to the invention, the LEDs are continuously activated in one possible embodiment, i.e. they light up continuously and remain illuminated in proportion to the respective fill level. The first LED lights up as soon as the filling process begins, with the number of activated LEDs corresponding to the current fill level. In this case, the measure can be taken that the first LED of the optical display only begins to light up when a minimum fill level of the legs of the spacer frame has been reached.

[0030] The exemplary measure of activating the lighting means in the invention progressively from top to bottom has the advantage that this embodiment of the optical display is suitable for different frame dimensions.

[0031] The control of the LEDs can be selected and executed in such a way that the lowest illuminated LED indicates approximately the degree of filling of the associated leg of the spacer frame.

[0032] In one embodiment of the invention, the optical display comprises two rows of illuminants, in particular LEDs. Each row is assigned to one of the spacer frame's legs, which extend away from the upper corner and point obliquely downwards (for example, inclined at 45°).

[0033] The optical display provided by the invention, which continuously shows the progress of the filling process and signals successful completion of the filling process (at which point no further LEDs are activated), prevents a spacer frame from being removed from the device prematurely. This can occur if the operator does not check the filling device's display to ensure that all legs of a spacer frame are sufficiently filled, i.e., to the specified fill level.

[0034] It is advantageous that with the method according to the invention and with the device according to the invention, the extent to which the legs of a spacer frame are filled is displayed in real time during the filling process, in particular starting with the uppermost light source and working downwards. This means that the optical display can be calibrated, for example, so that the light sources light up continuously and thus indicate the advancing degree of filling. It is advantageous if, according to one embodiment, it is provided that after the filling process, the lowest illuminated LED indicates how far the frame leg has been filled.

[0035] It should be noted that the quantity of filling material (molecular sieve) to be introduced into the spacer frame is calculated on the basis of the frame dimensions and the dimensions of the hollow profile strip from which the frame is made.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the device for filling hollow profile strips and spacer frames comprises a device by means of which the hollow profile strip to be filled and the spacer frame to be filled can be set into vibration. The device comprises, for example, a clamp that can be applied to the hollow profile strip or a leg of a spacer frame. The clamp is coupled to a vibration device so that the hollow profile strip / the leg can be set into vibration during the filling process. Two clamps coupled to vibration devices, which can be applied to two legs of a spacer frame, are preferably provided.

[0037] The clamp of the vibration device is applied to the hollow profile strip, for example, in the area where the opening is provided in the hollow profile strip through which filler material, such as a molecular sieve, is poured. If a spacer frame is to be filled, the clamps are preferably applied in the area of ​​the openings in the legs of the spacer frame through which filler material is poured. By generating oscillations, in particular vibrations, the filling process is advantageously supported and blockages are avoided.

[0038] Further details, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. It shows:

[0039] Fig. 1 schematically shows a storage tank according to AT 522 243 A in the initial position,

[0040] Fig. 2 shows the storage container from Fig. 1 after filling a spacer frame,

[0041] Fig. 3 shows a system known from AT 522 243 A for filling a spacer frame, and

[0042] Fig. 4 shows a filling device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention. A storage container 5, shown schematically in Figs. 1 and 2, contains filling material 10 (e.g., desiccant in the form of molecular sieve) which is to be filled into a spacer frame 11 for insulating glass.

[0043] The desired, e.g., pre-calculated, filling quantity often corresponds to a quantity of filling material 10 that fills the interior of a spacer frame 11 by 50%. This means that, for a rectangular spacer frame 11, one longer and one shorter leg of the spacer frame should be completely filled.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 1, a piston 12 rests on the top side of the filling material 10 and is pressed onto the surface of the filling material 10 with a predetermined force F.

[0045] After filling a spacer frame 11, the

[0046] Piston 12 is moved downwards by the distance AH (Fig. 2) and from the distance AH by which the piston 12 has moved, the amount of filling material 10 actually introduced into the spacer frame 11 can be determined.

[0047] For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, that the stroke of the piston 12, i.e. the distance AH, is recorded with the aid of a measuring device, as described below.

[0048] In the filling device for spacer frames 11 shown in Fig. 3 and known from AT 522 243 A, two storage containers 5 are provided. In each of the storage containers 5, a piston 12 is provided which is pressed onto the top of the filling material 10. For this purpose, the piston 12 is connected to a piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder 1, so that the piston 12 is pressed onto the filling material 10 in the storage container 5. In order to record the distance AH by which the piston 12 moves when removing filling material 20 from the storage containers 5, a measuring ruler 2 is provided. Instead of a measuring ruler 2, any device can be provided which records the movements of the piston 12 directly or indirectly.

[0049] Lines leading to vacuum pumps 3 are connected to the storage tanks 5, so that negative pressure can be generated in the storage tanks 5. Negative pressure facilitates the supply of filling material 10 (in particular, free-flowing or pourable granules in the form of a hygroscopic substance, such as a molecular sieve) via lines 4.

[0050] The storage containers 5 have an outlet opening 6 at the bottom, to which a line 7 is connected. Filling material 10 is introduced into a spacer frame 11 through the lines 7 by inserting the lines 7 into filling openings that were previously created in the outer wall of a spacer frame 11 made of hollow profile strips or a hollow profile strip bent into a frame. The free end 13 of each line 7 can be closed with the help of a nozzle 9 in the manner of a pinch valve by applying negative pressure to the nozzle 9 via a hose 8. In this way, the lines 7 can be closed when the filling of a spacer frame 11 is finished. This allows the spacer frame 11 to be removed from the device without filler material escaping from the end 13 of the line 7, and allows the openings in the spacer frame 11 to be closed by introducing a plastic, hardening mass.

[0051] The embodiment of a filling device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention shown in Fig. 4 is equipped with a visual display 21 which shows the start, the progress and the end of the filling process. In the embodiment of the filling device 20 shown in Fig. 4, a holder 22 is provided for fixing a spacer frame 11. The holder 22 comprises two jaws 23 which rest from the front and from the rear against the legs 24 of the spacer frame 11 in the region of an upper corner 25 of the spacer frame 11. A measuring device which determines the width of the hollow profile strip of the spacer frame 11 can be assigned to the jaws 23. The width of the hollow profile strip can be used when calculating the amount of filling material to be introduced into the spacer frame 11.

[0052] A spacer frame 11 to be filled, which is fixed in the filling device 20 by the holder 22 with an upwardly pointing corner 25, rests against a plate 30.

[0053] Two devices 28 for generating oscillations (vibrations) are provided in the area of ​​the plate 30. The devices 28 are applied to the legs 24 of the spacer frame 11, which extend obliquely downward from the corner 25, and cause the legs 24 to vibrate.

[0054] Two optical displays 21 are provided in the plate 30. In the embodiment of the filling device 20 shown in Fig. 4, an optical display 21 is assigned to both legs 24 extending from the upper corner 25, which are filled essentially simultaneously.

[0055] The optical displays 21 comprise a plurality of illuminants, such as LEDs 27, arranged in two substantially vertical rows 26. The rows 26 are arranged in the filling device 20 in the region of a hollow profile strip to be filled or of a spacer frame 11 to be filled and secured by the holder 22. Thus, the optical display 21 is in the operator's field of vision.

[0056] The LEDs 27 are activated sequentially to visually indicate the progress of the filling process, beginning with the topmost LEDs 27 of the rows 26. For example, before the start of a filling process, the LEDs 27 illuminate in a color, such as red, that contrasts with the color of the LEDs indicating the filling process, such as white. This makes it easy to see that a filling process has not yet begun.

[0057] When the filling process by the system, the device for filling hollow profile strips or spacer frames 11, has been terminated because no further flow of filler material 10 is detected, the operator can determine from the optical display 21 whether the filling is sufficient. This can be determined by comparing the height of the lowest illuminated LED 27 with the height of the lower end of the leg 24 of the spacer frame 11 to be filled. If the lowest illuminated LED 27 is at the height of the lower end of the leg 24, the leg is sufficiently filled with filler material 10. If, however, the lowest illuminated LED 27 is higher than the lower end of the leg 24, the leg is not sufficiently filled with filler material 10.The reason for insufficient filling may be an unclean opening in the hollow profile strip or in the spacer frame 11 , a splitting of the leg 24 with a straight connector that is not permeable to filling material or inferior filling material 10 that tends to clog.

[0058] As soon as the filling process is complete, i.e. as soon as filler material 10 has been filled into the hollow profile strip or the spacer frame 11, no further LEDs 27 are activated. The operator of the filling device 20 can therefore easily see that the filling process has been successfully completed. It is advantageous that the operator does not have to look at or go to the display of the filling device 20, which is used to control the filling device 20 and on which the relevant data of the filling device 20 is shown. The successive activation of the lighting means, such as the LEDs 27, of the optical display 21 can be controlled, for example, via the device for detecting the amount of filler material 10 removed from the storage containers 5.For example, the control of the activation of the LEDs 27 is linked to the measuring rulers 2 assigned to the pistons 12 in the storage containers 5 of the devices assigned to the storage containers 5 for detecting the amount of filling material 10 removed from the storage containers 5. Thus, the optical display(s) 21 reliably indicate the start, progress, and end of the filling process.

[0059] If the filling process is interrupted for any reason and no filling material 10 is filled into the hollow profile strip or the spacer frame 11, no further lamps of the optical display 21 are activated. Therefore, an operator of the filling device 20 can easily recognize that they must intervene to continue the filling process. As a rule, in the case of a four-sided spacer frame 11, only two legs 24 are filled with filling material 10, or in the case of a rectangular spacer frame 11, one short and one long leg 24, in order to achieve a filling level of 50%.

[0060] If in special cases it is desired that all four legs 24 of a four-sided spacer frame 11 are (completely) filled with filling material 10, the procedure can be described as follows: A spacer frame 11, of which two of the four legs 24 are filled, is removed after the holder 22 has been opened and turned by 180 ° so that the initially upper corner 25 of the spacer frame 11 is now a lower corner. The turned spacer frame 11 is inserted back into the filling device 20, the holder 22 is closed and a new filling process is started. The progress of the new filling process can be recognized by the lighting up of the lamps (LEDs 27) of the optical displays 21.

[0061] When carrying out the method according to the invention with the aid of a device according to the invention, the procedure for filling a square (four-sided) spacer frame 11 can be as follows, for example:

[0062] The spacer frame 11 is inserted into the device for filling spacer frames 11 with a corner 25 pointing upwards and legs 24 pointing diagonally downwards from this corner 25. Filling material 10 (e.g. a free-flowing hygroscopic agent such as molecular sieve) is then filled into the spacer frame through (drilled) holes provided in the spacer frame 11 in the region of the upper corner 25. The removal of filling material 10 from the storage containers 5 is detected, for example by detecting the movements of pistons 12 provided in the storage containers 5. Lighting means such as LEDs 27 of the optical display 21 are activated in accordance with the removal of filling material 10 from the storage containers 5. The lamps are activated starting from the top and progressing downwards so that the lowest activated lamp of the optical display 21 corresponds to the level of filling material 10 in the legs 24.This is done taking into account the dimensions of the hollow profile strip(s) which form the legs 24 of the spacer frame 11. For this purpose it is generally sufficient to record the width of the hollow profile strip measured transversely to the plane of the spacer frame 11 as the characteristic value for the inner cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow profile strip, because the length of the leg 24 of the spacer frame 11 to be filled is known to the system and the thickness of the hollow profile strip measured in the direction of the plane of the spacer frame 11 is the same for hollow profile strips of different widths. This ensures that the lighting means, such as the LEDs 27 of the optical display 21, are progressively activated from top to bottom in accordance with the progress of the filling process, while the level of filling material 10 in the legs 24 moves upwards.As soon as a leg 25 is completely filled, no further filling material 10 emerges from the storage containers 5 and into the spacer frame 11 and the further activation of lamps of the optical display 21 is aborted. In this case - i.e. when the leg 24 is completely filled - the lowest activated (illuminated) lamp is at the same height as the lower end of the filled leg 24 (i.e. horizontally next to the lower end of the leg 24) because the optical display 21 is matched (calibrated) to the dimensions of the hollow profile strip so that the height of the respective lowest activated lamp (LED 27) corresponds to the height of the level (upper end) of the filling material in the leg 24 to be filled. The operator can therefore easily see from the optical display 21 that the filling process has been completed successfully.

[0063] If, however, the lowest activated lamp is higher than the lower end of the leg 24 that is currently to be filled, when the filling process has been interrupted because no more filling material 10 is emerging from the storage container 5, the operator recognizes that the filling process was incomplete and can take appropriate measures.

[0064] When a filling process has been properly completed and the hollow profile strip or spacer frame 11 contains the predetermined amount of filling material 10, no further lamps of the optical displays 21 light up. The hollow profile strip or spacer frame 11 can be removed from the filling device 20 and fed to further process steps for producing insulating glass.

[0065] The inventive display of the progress of filling a hollow profile strip or a spacer frame 11 with filling material 10 by means of the optical display 21 is generally - but not necessarily - independent of other measures for monitoring the filling process and for detecting the degree of filling.

[0066] Example of the filling process and the LED display:

[0067] When filling hollow profile strips and legs of spacer frames, the progress of the filling process is displayed by LED.

[0068] The LEDs are activated one after the other, starting from the top and moving downwards, so that a - longer - bar of illuminated LEDs is created. Thus, the LEDs that illuminate from top to bottom indicate the (upward) progressive movement of the upper end ("level") of the filling material in the hollow profile strip or in the leg of the spacer frame - i.e. the area of ​​the hollow profile strip / leg filled with filling material. No further LEDs are activated (light up) when no more filling material enters the hollow profile strip / leg, because

[0069] - the hollow profile strip / leg is completely filled, or

[0070] - the filling process was interrupted prematurely due to a malfunction, and the hollow profile strip / leg was not completely filled. The fact that the filling process has stopped—for whatever reason—is recognized because the piston in the storage container no longer moves, as no more filling material is escaping from the storage container.

[0071] The last (lowest) illuminated LED - i.e. the lower end of the bar of illuminated LEDs - lies horizontally next to the lower end of the hollow profile strip / leg when the hollow profile strip / leg is completely filled.

[0072] In the event of a malfunction during the filling process, the length of the (downward-facing) bar of illuminated LEDs corresponds to the (upward-facing) length of the filled area of ​​the hollow profile strip / leg. This indicates how far the hollow profile strip / leg had been filled with filling material before the malfunction occurred.

[0073] The volume of the interior of the hollow profile strip to be filled or of the leg of the spacer frame is known or is determined. The quantities determining the volume are:

[0074] - the dimensions (e.g. length and width) of the interior, i.e. the clear cross-sectional area of ​​the hollow profile strip / leg,

[0075] - the length of the hollow profile strip / leg.

[0076] The volume of the filling material removed from the storage container during the filling process and filled into the hollow profile strip / leg is recorded using the measuring ruler assigned to the piston in the storage container.

[0077] The amount of filling material filled into the hollow profile strip / leg corresponds to a level of filling material in the hollow profile strip / leg, i.e. the upper end of the area of ​​the hollow profile strip / leg containing filling material.

[0078] Based on the amount of filler material taken from the storage container and filled into the hollow profile strip / leg, the illumination of the LED can be controlled so that the length of the bar of illuminated LEDs corresponds to the area of ​​the hollow profile strip / leg containing the filler material.

[0079] In summary, an embodiment of the invention can be described as follows:

[0080] When filling spacer frames 11 made of hollow profile strips, molecular sieve is poured into the spacer frame 11 from at least one storage container 5 through a filling opening in the wall of the spacer frame 11. The progress of the filling process is indicated by an optical display 21, in that the display 21 begins to display after the start of the filling process and indicates the progress of the filling process by progressively activating lamps. The end of the filling process is indicated when no further lamps are activated.

Claims

Claims:

1. Method for filling hollow profile strips, in particular hollow profile strips which serve as spacers, in particular as spacers in the form of spacer frames (11), for insulating glass panes, wherein free-flowing filling material (10), in particular a hygroscopic material such as molecular sieve, is introduced into the hollow profile strip from at least one storage container (5), characterized in that the course and the end of the filling process of the hollow profile strip with filling material (10) are optically displayed.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the start of the filling process, the course of the filling process and the end of the filling process are visually displayed.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that before the start of the filling process, an optical indication is provided that the filling process has not yet begun.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the optical display before the start of the filling process is carried out with a color that contrasts with the color with which the start, the course and the end of the filling process are optically displayed.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that lighting means are used for the optical display.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that LEDs (27) are used as lighting means.

7. Method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that lighting means are arranged at least in one row (26) and the lighting means are activated according to the course of the filling process of the hollow profile strip.

8. Method according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that no further lighting means are activated when the hollow profile strip has been filled with filling material (10) up to the predetermined filling level.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that when filling the legs (24) of a spacer frame (11), filling material (10) is introduced simultaneously into two legs (24) extending from a corner (25) of the spacer frame (11).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that an optical display (21) is used for each of the legs (24) of the spacer frame (11) to be filled.

11. Method according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that for the optical display (21) lighting means are used which are arranged in a row (26) which is substantially vertical in the position of use, and that when displaying the progress of the filling process, lighting means are activated progressively downwards, starting with the uppermost lighting means.

12. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the hollow profile strip, in particular a spacer frame (11), during the filling process in is set into vibration.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one vibration device (28) is used to generate the vibrations, wherein preferably two vibration devices (28) are used which are assigned to two legs extending from a corner of a spacer frame.

14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the filling process is interrupted after filling two legs (24) of a four-sided spacer frame (11), that the spacer frame (11) is turned by 180° and then the two other legs (24) of the spacer frame (11) are filled with filling material (10).

15. Method according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a spacer frame (11) comprising at least one hollow profile strip is filled with filling material to 50% with respect to all legs (24) of the spacer frame.

16. Method according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a spacer frame (11) to be filled, comprising at least one hollow profile strip, is filled with filling material (10) in a position in which a corner (25) of the spacer frame (11) points upwards.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that at least two legs (24) of the spacer frame (11) extending from a corner, in particular from the upwardly facing corner (25), are filled simultaneously.

18. Method according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the quantity of filling material (10) removed from the at least one storage container (5) is recorded indirectly.

19. Method according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the change in the level of filling material (10) in the at least one storage container (5) is detected.

20. Method according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that pressure is exerted on the upper side of the filling material (10) contained in the storage container (5).

21. Method according to claim 20, characterized in that pressure is exerted by means of a piston (12) displaceable in the storage container (5).

22. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the piston (12) is pneumatically loaded.

23. Method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the lowering of the level of filling material (10) in the storage container (5) is detected by detecting the path of the piston (12) in the storage container (5).

24. Method according to claim 23, characterized in that lighting means of the optical display (21) are activated depending on the path of the piston (12) in the storage container (5).

25. Device for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 24, with at least one storage container (5) for filling material (10) and with at least one line (7) from the storage container (5) to the hollow profile strip to be filled, and with a holder (22) for the filling hollow profile strip, characterized in that an optical display (21) is provided in the region of the holder (22).

26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the optical display (21) comprises a row (26) of lighting means, in particular LEDs (27).

27. Device according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that in the region of the holder (22) a device (28) is provided which causes the hollow profile strip to oscillate, in particular to vibrate.

28. Device according to claim 27, characterized in that a vibration-generating device (28) is provided for each of the legs (24) extending from the upwardly facing corner (25) of a spacer frame (11).

29. Device according to one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that for filling a spacer frame (11) comprising at least one hollow profile strip, a holder (22) for the spacer frame (11) is provided, which holder fixes the spacer frame (11) with an upwardly facing corner (25), and that an optical display (21) is provided for each of the legs (24) of the spacer frame (11) pointing obliquely downwards from the upwardly facing corner (25).

30. Device according to one of claims 25 to 29, characterized in that the lighting means of the optical display (21) are arranged in a vertical row (26).

31. Device according to one of claims 25 to 30, characterized in that in the storage container (5) a displaceably mounted piston (12), a device for loading the piston (12) and a device for detecting the distance by which the piston (12) moves in the storage container (5), in particular a measuring ruler (2), are provided.

32. Device according to one of claims 25 to 31, characterized in that two storage containers (5) connected in parallel are provided and that from each storage container (5) a line (7) for filling legs (24) of a spacer frame (11) which start from the upwardly facing corner (25) extends.

33. Device according to one of claims 25 to 32, characterized in that a clamping device for fixing a spacer frame is provided in the holder (22) and that a device for measuring the width of the spacer frame (11) is assigned to the jaws (23) of the clamping device.

34. Device according to one of claims 25 to 33, characterized in that the holder (22) is designed for fixing a spacer frame (11) with an upwardly facing corner (25) and with legs (24) extending from the upwardly facing corner (25) and inclined to the vertical, and in that the two rows (26) of lighting means of the optical display (21) are aligned substantially vertically.

35. Device according to one of claims 25 to 34, characterized in that the control for activating the The illuminating means of the optical display (21) is connected to the device for detecting the distance traveled by the piston (12) in the storage container (5).

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