Apparatus and method for post processing a welded window-, frame-, or door element
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- STURTZ MASCHBAUU
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-17
Smart Images
Figure EP2024072486_13022025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Device and method for post-processing a welded window, frame or door element
[0002] The invention relates to a device for reworking an outer contour of a window, frame or door element made of plastic profiles welded at connection points, comprising a support with fixing devices for the window, frame or door element and at least one tool movable to the contour of the window, frame or door element to be reworked.
[0003] The invention further relates to a method for reworking an outer contour of a window, frame or door element made of plastic profiles which is welded at connection points, in which the welded window, frame or door element is fixed on a support with fixing devices and is then machined with a tool in the area of the contour to be reworked.
[0004] Devices and methods of the type mentioned above are known and serve to improve the visual appearance of a window, frame, or door element formed from welded plastic profiles, in particular a window or door frame or window or door leaf, for example, by removing a weld bead that has emerged during welding through post-processing, which is usually done by machining. An example of such a device is disclosed in AT 370032 B.
[0005] In addition to welding beads that need to be removed, welded window or door elements often also develop an undesirable appearance if visually visible joints remain in the area of the connection point between the plastic profiles that are usually mitred in the corner and welded together to form the window, frame or door element, particularly in areas of the connection point that cannot be welded or cannot be welded completely. One example is the overlap of a sash frame, but other contours located in the area of the outer or inner circumference of the window, frame or door element can also be considered. In the area of these contours, where visually undesirable joints appear, post-processing is desirable to improve the appearance of the welded window, frame or door element.
[0006] DE 10 2018 106 400 A1 discloses the pressing of a pressure element, in particular a rolling pressure element, along the longitudinal extension of the butt edge of a profile joint in order to smooth the contour. This is undesirably complex due to the required complex movement sequence of the pressure element—first pressing and then moving along the longitudinal extension. For very delicate applications in the area of the inside or outside corner, it is also possible to press the pressure element onto the surface only, although the result is not always satisfactory.
[0007] The object of the invention is to propose a device and a method of the type mentioned at the outset which enables such post-processing of an outer contour of a window, frame or door element made of plastic profiles which is welded at the connection points in a simple manner.
[0008] To achieve the stated object, the invention proposes the design of a device according to the features of patent claim 1.
[0009] A method for solving the problem is the subject of patent claim 13.
[0010] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0011] The device proposed according to the invention to achieve the stated object comprises a tool which can be moved along the contour of the window, frame, or door element to be reworked, which tool is designed as a forming die for pressing onto the contour to be reworked in a pressing direction extending parallel to the support. Furthermore, according to the invention, a heating device is provided for heating the contour and / or the forming die prior to pressing. According to the invention, it is further provided that the forming die pressed onto the contour can be pivoted in a pivoting movement about a pivot axis extending perpendicular to the pressing direction. With such a pivotable forming die according to the invention, unavoidable gaps in the outer contour of the welded window, frame, or door element can be optimally smoothed and sealed.
[0012] According to one proposal of the invention, the pivot axis runs parallel to the support, i.e., usually in a horizontal plane. The pivoting movement allows the forming die, which can be pressed onto the contour in the direction of contact, to compensate for tolerances in the angularity of the outer contour of the welded plastic profiles in the visible area and to close the gap caused by angular errors.
[0013] Alternatively, according to a further proposal of the invention, the pivot axis can also extend vertically to the support, i.e., run approximately perpendicularly through it along the vertical. This pivoting movement around a vertical axis smooths and rounds a groove formed between the welded plastic profiles in the transition area. The resulting material displacement closes the groove and pushes any escaping weld bead inward.
[0014] In order to carry out the pivoting movement provided according to the invention, according to a proposal of the invention, the shaped piece can be held resiliently in a punch holder so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis, so that it can passively carry out its pivoting movement about the respective pivot axis due to the counterforces generated during pressing.
[0015] Alternatively, especially with a vertical pivot axis, an active pivot drive can also be provided to actively pivot the pressed-on molded part about the pivot axis. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pivoting movement covers an angle of approximately 5° to 40° parallel to the support, which can be selected by the person skilled in the art based on the specific circumstances.
[0016] According to the invention, the window, frame or door element previously welded separately from the plastic profiles at the connection points is clamped into the device between the support and the fixing devices, the contour to be reworked and / or the forming die is heated to a suitable forming temperature with the heating device and the forming die is then pressed onto the contour to be reworked and pivoted, whereby any joints present in the area of the contour to be reworked are closed by appropriate deformation or material displacement by the forming die and the appearance of the window, frame or door element reworked in this way is improved in the desired manner.
[0017] Such processing according to the invention by heating and subsequent pressing on a forming stamp requires only a short amount of time, which can be easily integrated into the usual post-processing steps of a welded window, frame or door element.
[0018] According to a proposal of the invention, the forming punch, which can be pivoted about a vertical pivot axis with respect to the support, is resiliently mounted on a tool carrier in three mutually orthogonal planes and is movable together with the tool carrier, so that tolerances with respect to the position of the contour to be reworked can be compensated for by the relative mobility of the forming punch to the tool carrier in three orthogonal planes.
[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, in order to reduce the setup times of the device in the event of changing profile geometries of the welded window, frame, or door elements and correspondingly changing contours to be reworked, the device according to the invention can be designed with a punch holder and at least two, for example, three, holders formed on the punch holder for spaced-apart accommodation of a forming punch each individually adapted to a contour to be reworked. The punch holder can then be differently positioned by suitable adjustment means of the device such that the respectively assigned and selected forming punch can be pressed onto a contour currently to be reworked.For example, several forming punches can be arranged one above the other on the punch holder, so that the required forming punch can be selected and pressed onto the contour to be machined by adjusting the height of the punch holder.
[0020] All forming punches can be held resiliently around the pivot axis in the punch holder - particularly when the pivot axis is aligned parallel to the support - or, particularly when the pivot axis is vertical to the support, can be pivoted together with the punch holder around the pivot axis, e.g. by means of an active pivot drive.
[0021] In the punch holder, a heating element, for example an electrically powered heating cartridge, can also be arranged in a corresponding bore to heat the forming punches.
[0022] According to a further proposal of the invention, the heating device comprises a heat-air blower directed at the contour of the window, frame, or door element to be reworked and / or the forming die in order to heat the contour and / or the forming die to a suitable temperature within a short time. Other direct or indirect heating systems for the forming die are also possible, for example, a heated oil circuit.
[0023] In any case, the heating device is designed according to the invention in such a way that the contour to be reworked is heated to a level that sufficiently softens the plastic material in the area of the contour without adversely affecting the properties of the plastic material in the area of the contour to be reworked, for example, with regard to strength and / or gloss level or its appearance. The suitable temperature depends on the plastic material of the plastic profiles used to manufacture the welded window or door elements.
[0024] In a conventional plastic profile made of extruded PVC, the heating device according to a proposal of the invention is designed such that the contour is heated to a temperature of approximately 60 to 220°C, preferably 120 to 180°C and for example approximately 160°C.
[0025] For example, when using a hot air blower and generating a warm air stream set to a temperature of approximately 120°C and directed at the contour, this heating process takes approximately 5 to 6 seconds. In conjunction with a forming die heated to a temperature of approximately 60°C, the forming die is then advantageously pressed onto the contour for approximately 5 to 6 seconds to effect the desired deformation of the contour and round the corner area.
[0026] Furthermore, according to a further proposal of the invention, it can be provided that the forming punch has a specifically shaped groove on its surface facing the contour, which groove is based on the geometry of the contour to be machined.
[0027] The device according to the invention explained above merely requires the arrangement of a forming die with the associated pressing device and a corresponding heating device, so that the device according to the invention can be integrated into existing post-processing machines for the joints of window, frame, or door elements made of plastic profiles. In particular, the device according to the invention explained above is suitable for integration into a conventional corner-finishing machine or other process stations downstream of the welding process.
[0028] The method proposed within the scope of the invention for reworking an outer contour of a window, frame or door element made of plastic profiles that is welded at joints is based on the welded window, frame or door element being fixed to a support with fixing devices and then being machined in the area of the contour to be reworked with a tool, wherein this tool is designed as a forming die that is pressed onto the contour to be reworked in a pressing direction extending parallel to the support, wherein the contour and / or the forming die is preheated to a forming temperature before being pressed on. According to the invention, the forming die pressed onto the contour is pivoted in the pressed-on state about a pivot axis extending at right angles to the pressing direction.
[0029] According to a proposal of the invention, the right-angled extension of the pivot axis to the pressing direction is understood to mean an orientation of the pivot axis in which the forming punch is pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis running parallel to the support.
[0030] According to a further proposal of the invention, however, a right-angled extension of the pivot axis can also be produced by pivoting the forming punch about a pivot axis extending vertically to the support.
[0031] According to a proposal of the invention, the forming stamp pressed onto the contour is pivoted in the pressed-on state by means of a pivot drive through an angle of approximately 5-40° around the pivot axis.
[0032] Preheating can be effected, for example, by means of hot air and / or by means of an electric heating element, the latter preferably being integrated into the forming die.
[0033] According to a proposal of the invention, a suitable mold temperature to which the contour to be reworked and / or the molding die is preheated before it is pressed on is approximately 60-220 °C, which has proven suitable for PVC plastic profiles.
[0034] Further embodiments and details of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings illustrating an exemplary embodiment. They show:
[0035] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention operating according to the method according to the invention;
[0036] Figure 2 shows the side view of the device according to Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a schematic, simplified vertical plan view of the device according to Figures 1 and 2;
[0037] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;
[0038] Figure 5 shows the side view of the device according to Figure 4;
[0039] Figure 6 shows a partial section through the device according to Figures 4 and 5.
[0040] The figures show a device for post-processing an outer contour 41 of a window, frame, or door element 4 made of plastic profiles and welded at a connection point 40. The window, frame, or door element 4 can be, for example, a sash of a window. For better clarity, the window, frame, or door element 4 is only indicated by a profile 4a in the illustrations according to Figures 1 and 2, but is formed in a previous welding process from plastic profiles that are mitered together in the corner area and welded together at a connection point 40. Figure 3 shows such a connection point 40 between the plastic profiles 4a, 4b.
[0041] When welding and connecting the plastic profiles 4a, 4b at the connection point 40 according to Figure 3, a contour 41 is often visible on the outer circumference in the area of the corner, which is characterized by a visible gap, which is optically undesirable but technically unavoidable during welding.
[0042] For the corresponding post-processing of this exemplary outer contour 41, the window, frame or door element 4 is clamped into the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 by placing the window or door element 4 on a support 1 and clamping it firmly and in a defined position, for example by means of fixing devices 2, 3 which can be clamped on the support 1 with actuating levers 20, 30, in which the fixing devices 2, 3 are shaped in such a way that they also form stop surfaces for the alignment of the window, frame or door element 4.In this fixed and aligned position of the window, frame, or door element 4, the contour 41 to be reworked is first heated to a temperature of approximately 60-220 °C using a hot air blower (not shown) directed at the contour 41 or another suitable heating device, so that the plastic material of the plastic profiles 4a, 4b is softened without changing its optical properties. The hot air blower can, for example, be a 250-watt heating cartridge with compressed air flowing around it.
[0043] Then, via a corresponding drive 6, a tool carrier 50 with a forming punch 5 attached thereto is pressed in a pressing direction P onto the outer contour 41 of the window, frame or door element 4 to be reworked, wherein the pressing force applied by the drive 6 and the pressing path are adjusted such that the gap present in the area of the contour 41 between the plastic profiles 4a, 4b connected to the window, frame or door element 4 is closed.
[0044] This closing of the gap is facilitated by the fact that the forming punch 5 is designed with a specifically shaped groove 52 on its surface facing the contour 41. In addition, the forming punch 5 is resiliently mounted to compensate for positional tolerances on the tool carrier 50 both in the vertical direction V and in the horizontal direction H and the horizontal direction orthogonal thereto, so that it is movable in three mutually orthogonal planes.
[0045] Furthermore, in addition to or as an alternative to the heating device designed as a hot air blower, the forming die 5 can be provided with an electric heating element integrated into the forming die 5 to heat the forming die 5 itself to a desired temperature between approximately 60 and 220 °C. For example, a heating cartridge with an output of approximately 100 watts can be used for this purpose. The electrical supply lines required for this purpose are designated by reference numeral 51. Alternatively, the forming die 5 could also be heated indirectly using hot air or the like.
[0046] In order to further improve the closing of the gap or the visible joint in the area of the contour 41, the entire drive 6 with tool carrier 50 and forming punch 5 is arranged on a carrier plate 60, which is guided via guide rollers 62 on an arcuate guide rail 61 in a corresponding recess 10 of the support 1 in order to execute a pivoting movement S about a pivot axis A extending vertically at right angles to the support 1, which sweeps over an angle of approximately 5° to 40° parallel to the support 1. The forming punch 5 pressed onto the heated contour 41 to be reworked is pivoted in this way over the gap to be closed or the visible joint of the contour 41, which creates a particularly advantageous visual impression of the reworked contour 41.
[0047] The swivel movement S can be effected by a corresponding swivel drive 7 and can be carried out in single or multiple oscillation over the angle of 5° to 40° parallel to the support 1.
[0048] Figures 4 to 6 show an embodiment modified from the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 3, in which a punch holder 53 is fastened to the tool carrier 50 with the interposition of a thermal insulator plate 57, which in the illustrated embodiment has three holders arranged vertically one above the other for receiving a forming punch 5 each, which are numbered accordingly with reference numerals 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 and are held at a distance from one another on the punch holder 53.
[0049] Each forming die 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3 has an individually different groove 52 adapted to the contours 41 (not shown) of the connection points of different plastic profiles. Furthermore, each individual forming die 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3 is mounted in the die holder 53 so as to be pivotable about its own pivot axis A, with all pivot axes extending horizontally and parallel to the support 1.
[0050] The pivotability of the forming punches 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 about these associated pivot axes A is ensured by the fact that the formed pieces 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 are resiliently supported on the punch holder 53 above and below the associated pivot axis by means of a horizontally extending spring bearing 56, so that the forming punch 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 can resiliently deflect and pivot about the pivot axis A by an angle of up to 5° when pressed onto the contour 41 in the pressing direction P. In this way, tolerances in the angularity of the welded profiles, which are usually mitred, can be optimally compensated.
[0051] It should be noted that of the several, here three different and stacked forming punches 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3, only one selected forming punch 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3 is pressed onto the contour 41, to which the forming punch 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3 is specifically adapted with the shape of the groove 52. The selection of the specific forming punch 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3 to be pressed on depending on the contour 41 is carried out by adjusting the height of the tool carrier 50 in the device so that the desired forming punch 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3 comes into engagement with the contour 41. In this way, setup times of the device can be reduced when different contours 41 are to be reworked.
[0052] It can also be seen from Figure 6 that a downwardly open bore 54 is provided within the punch carrier 53, into which an electric heating cartridge 55 with associated connecting lines 51 is inserted in order to heat the forming punches 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 equally.
[0053] It is understood that such a tool carrier designed with a punch holder 53 for a plurality of forming punches 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 can also be combined with a vertically extending pivot axis according to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. In this case, the forming punches 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 are rigidly attached to the punch holder 53 and can be pivoted together with it about the vertical pivot axis A.
[0054] The device described above requires very little space, and the time required for preheating the outer contour 41 to be reworked and subsequently pressing on the forming die 5 is so short that the device and method can be integrated into existing post-processing machines for previously welded window, frame, or door elements made of plastic profiles. When using a hot air blower with a warm air stream of approximately 120°C directed onto the contour, a heating time of approximately 5 to 6 seconds is sufficient to sufficiently soften the contour. A forming die 5 heated to approximately 60°C can then be pressed on for a further 5 to 6 seconds to effect the desired post-processing of the contour 41.An example of a post-processing machine suitable for integration is a corner-cleaning machine, which typically uses milling and cutting tools to remove plastic material that has escaped from the joint. Heating can be performed during the machining process in such a device to further save cycle time.
[0055] It is understood that the device shown can also be provided multiple times in a post-processing machine in order to process several or all corners of the window, frame or door element 4 at the same time.
[0056] It is understood that the device and the method are not limited to the illustrated post-processing of the outer corner area of the window, frame or door element 4 in the area of the contour 41, but are also suitable for post-processing any other contours in the area of the inner or outer circumference of the window, frame or door element 4.
[0057] List of reference symbols:
[0058] 1 : Edition
[0059] 2: Fixation device
[0060] 3: Fixation device
[0061] 4: Window, frame or door element
[0062] 4a: Plastic profile
[0063] 4b: Plastic profile
[0064] 5: Form stamp
[0065] 6: Drive
[0066] 7: Swivel drive
[0067] 10: Recess
[0068] 20: Operating lever
[0069] 30: Operating lever
[0070] 40: Connection point
[0071] 41 : Contour
[0072] 50: Tool carrier
[0073] 51 : electrical supply lines
[0074] 52: Cove
[0075] 53: Stamp holder
[0076] 54: Borehole
[0077] 55: Heating cartridge
[0078] 56: Spring bearing
[0079] 57: Insulator plate
[0080] 60: Carrier plate
[0081] 61 : Guide rail
[0082] 62: Leadership role
[0083] A: Swivel axis
[0084] H: horizontal direction
[0085] P: Contact direction
[0086] S: Swivel movement
[0087] V: vertical direction
Claims
Patent claims:
1. Device for reworking an outer contour (41) of a window, frame or door element (4) made of plastic profiles and welded at connection points (40), comprising a support (1) with fixing devices (2, 3) for the window, frame or door element (4) and at least one tool which can be moved onto the contour (41) of the window, frame or door element (4) to be reworked, wherein the tool is designed as a forming die (5) for pressing onto the contour (41) to be reworked in a pressing direction (P) extending parallel to the support (1) and a heating device is provided for heating the contour (41) and / or the forming die (5) before pressing, characterized in that the forming die (5) pressed onto the contour (41) can be pivoted in a pivoting movement (S) about a pivot axis (A) extending at right angles to the pressing direction (P).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (A) runs parallel to the support (1).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the forming punch (5) is resiliently held in a punch holder (53) by means of spring bearings (56) so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis (A).
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a stamp holder (53) with several holders for receiving at least two forming stamps (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) arranged at a distance from one another is provided, which are each adapted to a contour (41) to be reworked and the stamp holder can be positioned differently in such a way that a selected forming stamp (5.1, 5.2, 5.3) can be pressed onto the contour (41) to be reworked.
5. Device according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the punch holder (53) has a bore (54) with a heating device (55) inserted therein for heating the forming punches (5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3).
6. Device according to one of claims 1 or 3 to 5, characterized in that the pivot axis (S) extends vertically to the support (1).
7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that a pivoting drive (7) is provided and the pivoting movement (S) covers an angle of 5° to 40° parallel to the support (1).
8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the forming punch (5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3) is resiliently mounted on a tool carrier (50) in three mutually orthogonal planes and is movable together with the tool carrier (50).
9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the heating device comprises a warm air blower directed towards the contour (41) and / or the forming stamp (5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3).
10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the forming punch (5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3) has a groove (52) on its surface facing the contour (41).
11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the heating device is designed such that the contour (41) is heated to a temperature of 60 to 220 °C.
12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is integrated into a corner-plastering machine arranged downstream of a welding device for the window, frame or door element (4) for post-processing the corners of the welded window, frame or door element (4).
13. Method for reworking an outer contour (41) of a window, frame or door element (4) made of plastic profiles and welded at connection points (40), in which method the welded window, frame or door element (4) is fixed on a support (1) by means of fixing devices (2, 3) and is then machined in the region of the contour (41) to be reworked using a tool, the tool being designed as a forming die (5) which is pressed onto the contour (41) to be reworked in a pressing direction (P) extending parallel to the support (1), and the contour (41) and / or the forming die (5) is preheated before being pressed on, characterized in that the forming die (5) pressed onto the contour (41) is pivoted about a pivot axis (A) extending at right angles to the pressing direction (P).
14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the forming punch (5) is pivoted about a pivot axis (A) running parallel to the support (1).
15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the forming punch (5) is pivoted about a pivot axis (A) extending vertically to the support (1).
16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the forming punch (5) is pivoted by means of a pivot drive (7) through an angle of 5° to 40° about the pivot axis (A).
17. Method according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the preheating is effected by means of hot air and / or by means of an electric heating element.
18. Process according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the preheating takes place to a temperature of 60 to 220 °C.