Method and device for assembling triple insulated glass pane consisting of two outer glasses and thin glass between them

Abstract

To create a method and device for assembling a triple insulated glass pane.SOLUTION: A thin glass in an upright position is transported to a first pressing station (5); a first flexible spacer strand is applied to a first outer glass and bonded to the thin glass; a second flexible spacer strand is applied to the first outer glass and bonded to the thin glass to form a glass assembly; the second flexible spacer strand is applied to the first outer glass and bonded to the thin glass at the first pressing station (5); a second flexible spacer is applied to the second outer glass and transported in the upright position to a turning station (6), where it is rotated around an upright rotation axis; and transported in the upright position to the second pressing station (8); the second outer glass is transported through the first pressing station (5) and the turning station (6); and bonded to the second outer glass to form a triple insulated glass pane.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention begins with a method and apparatus for assembling triple insulating glass panes. Triple insulating glass panes are mass-produced industrially on a production line, where first, second and third glass sheets are continuously fed into an apparatus having a coating station and a press station downstream of the coating station. Each station has a horizontal conveyor on which the glass sheets are conveyed one by one in an upright position. Each horizontal conveyor is provided with a support wall on which the upright glass sheets are supported at a few degrees backward inclination. The first and third glass sheets each form the outer glass of the finished insulating glass pane. The second glass sheet forms the middle glass of the finished insulating glass pane. At the coating station, flexible spacer strands are applied to each of the second and third glass sheets. At the press station, the three glass sheets are combined to form the triple insulating glass pane, and filled with a gas other than air, if necessary. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a triple insulating glass pane in which the middle glass is formed by a thin glass. This insulating glass pane has a thin glass of 0.5 mm thickness between two outer glass sheets of 5 mm thickness. Thin glass is unstable. It bends and breaks easily. Insulating glass panes using thin glass of 2 mm thickness or less cannot yet be manufactured in known industrial production lines in which glass sheets are transported and processed upright on a single track horizontal conveyor because of the difficulty in transporting and handling thin glass. Therefore, glass sheets have mainly been manufactured manually using rigid prefabricated spacer frames. Therefore, the time required to assemble such insulating glass panes has been very long so far.

[0003] Furthermore, US Pat. No. 5,399,633 and US Pat. No. 5,499,663 describe non-standard devices and methods for assembling insulating glass panes, each of which includes two horizontal conveyors with parallel conveyor tracks adjacent to each other. This means that in one station two glass sheets can be placed and transported adjacent to each other. The two glass sheets are arranged in a V-shape in the station and are supported by two opposing support walls, which are also inclined in opposite directions in a V-shape. Thus, the two press plates in such a press station are also V-shaped relative to each other and therefore must rotate relative to each other during the pressing process. Such devices and processes are sometimes described in the patent literature, but have not yet been utilized in the industrial production of insulating glass panes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. WO2020 / 028056A1 [Patent Document 2] European Patent No. 2802727B1 [Patent Document 3] German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2019 123 700 A1 [Patent Document 4] European Patent No. 0539407B1 [Patent Document 5] European Patent No. 1769130B1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to create a method and apparatus for assembling a triple insulating glass pane that includes two outer panes of glass and a thin pane between them, and in particular to reduce the time to manufacture such insulating glass panes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This object of the present invention is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a device having the features of claim 5. Advantageous further embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] In the process according to the invention, the thin glass in a vertical position is conveyed through a first coating station to a first press station. The thin glass is thus supplied as a first glass sheet. The thin glass is conveyed in a vertical position with its lower end to the first press station. The thin glass is conveyed through the press station without interruption, i.e. without being stopped and without being processed by the vertical press station at its edge. In other words, no spacer strands are applied to the thin glass. The first outer glass is supplied as a second glass sheet. The first outer glass is conveyed in a vertical position to the coating station. In the coating station, a first flexible spacer strand is applied to the first outer glass such that the first spacer strand forms a frame-shaped spacer on the first outer glass. After the spacer strand has been applied, the first outer glass is conveyed in a vertical position from the coating station to the first press station. The second outer glass is supplied as a third glass sheet. The second outer glass is conveyed in a vertical position to the coating station. In the coating station, the second flexible spacer strands are applied to the second outer glass such that the second spacer strands form a frame-like spacer on the second outer glass. In the first press station, the thin glass and the first outer glass are joined to form a glass assembly. During assembly, the thin glass and the outer glass are parallel to each other. The distance between the thin glass and the first outer glass is shortened until the thin glass rests on the first spacer strands and is at a predetermined distance relative to the first outer glass. The glass assembly is transported in an upright position from the first press station to a pivot station, where it is pivoted about a vertical rotation axis. After pivoting, the glass assembly is transported in an upright position from the pivot station to the second press station. The second outer glass is transported in an upright position from the coating station through the first press station and from the pivot station to the second press station. After the glass assembly leaves the first press station, the second outer glass is transported through the first press station.The second outer glass is transported through the first press station without stopping or processing. At the second press station, the glass assembly and the second outer glass are bonded to form a triple insulating glass pane. During assembly, the glass assembly and the second outer glass are parallel to each other. The distance between the glass assembly and the second outer glass is reduced until the thin glass rests on the second spacer strands and the first outer glass has a predetermined distance relative to the second outer glass. After bonding, the triple insulating glass pane is transported straight up from the second press station.

[0008] The thin glass is a glass sheet having a thickness of 2 mm or less. The thin glass constitutes the middle or inner glass of the finished triple insulating glass pane. The outer glass is a glass sheet having two opposing faces, the first of which faces the thin glass of the finished insulating glass pane and the second of which faces the outside of the finished glass pane. The first face of the outer glass thus forms the inside of the finished glass pane. The second face of the outer glass forms the outside of the finished insulating glass pane. The thickness of the outer glass pane may be between 2 mm and 15 mm. In particular, it may range from 3 mm to 8 mm.

[0009] The device according to the invention for assembling a triple insulating glass pane comprising two outer panes and a thin pane between them comprises an application station, which is configured to apply flexible spacer strands along the edges of the outer panes in an upright position. The triple insulating glass pane comprises flexible spacer strands both between the thin pane and the first outer pane and between the thin pane and the second outer pane. A first press station is arranged downstream of the application station. The first press station comprises a horizontal conveyor and two parallel press plates. The first press station is arranged to join the thin pane and the first outer pane with the flexible spacer strands to form a glass assembly. A pivot station is arranged downstream of the first press station. The pivot station comprises two parallel support walls and a horizontal conveyor. The horizontal conveyor is assigned to both support walls and is rotatable together with both support walls about an upright rotation axis. The turning station is configured to rotate the glass sheet in an upright position on the horizontal conveyor by 180° around the upright rotation axis. When viewed along the conveying direction, the rotation axis is arranged centrally with respect to the horizontal conveyor. That is to say, after the 180° rotation, the horizontal conveyor returns to the same line as it was before the rotation. Downstream of the turning station, a second pressing station is arranged. The second pressing station comprises a horizontal conveyor and two parallel pressing plates. In both the first pressing station and the second pressing station, the distance between the two pressing plates can be changed. Even if the distance between the two pressing plates of the pressing stations is changed, the two pressing plates remain oriented parallel to each other. The second pressing station is configured to join the thin glass of the glass assembly with the second outer glass with the flexible spacer strand. Both the turning station and the two pressing stations, in particular all stations of the device according to the invention, can each comprise only one single-track horizontal conveyor. The term single track means a horizontal conveyor having only one conveyor track.The horizontal conveyors can be configured to transport the glass sheets in an upright position in a straight line through the respective stations. The horizontal conveyors can include a plurality of transport rollers arranged in a row and / or a horizontally running conveyor belt for transporting the glass sheets upright on their lower edges. All the horizontal conveyors can be arranged back-to-back to each other along a straight line.

[0010] Both the first and second press stations are designed as follows: the first of the two press plates forms a standing support wall for the glass sheets transported in a standing position on the horizontal conveyor. The "standing" feature means that the support wall is neither exactly vertical nor aligned steeply, but is inclined backwards by a few degrees so that a standing glass sheet leaning against the support wall does not tilt forward, i.e. away from the support wall. The support wall may have an inclination of about 6° to 8° to the vertical. The first press plate may be arranged in a fixed position. The second of the two press plates may be displaceable laterally with respect to the first press plate in order to vary the distance between the two press plates. When the second press plate is displaced, the second press plate remains parallel to the first press plate. The press station may have a suction device for suctioning the glass sheet to the second press plate. The press station may be configured to fill the space between the glass sheets with a gas other than air. The design and mode of operation of such pressing stations is known per se from decades of use in the industrial manufacture of insulating glass panes, as well as from US Pat. No. 5,393,323 and US Pat. No. 5,493,994, and therefore need not be described in further detail.

[0011] In the application station, the flexible spacer strips are applied in a manner known per se along the edges of the standing glass sheets, i.e. on the first and second outer panes. That is to say, no prefabricated spacer frames are placed on the glass sheets. The spacer strands can be arranged without gaps along the edges of the glass sheets. Only the spacer strands applied along the entire edge of the glass sheets form the spacer frame for spacing the two adjacent glass sheets. The flexible spacer strands can be paste-like and subsequently solidified spacer strands made of thermoplastic and / or reactive crosslinking material, which are applied to the glass sheets by means of a nozzle. The flexible spacer strands are therefore still hot and / or not yet fully hardened after application. The flexible spacer strands can also be unwound as ribbon-like material from a supply roll and applied onto the glass sheets. The application station can include an application head, which is guided along at least a portion of the edge of the outer panes for applying the spacer strands. Effect of the Invention

[0012] The present invention has great advantages.

[0013] The present invention allows thin glass in a vertical position with flexible spacer strands to be processed into triple insulating glass panes on an industrial scale.

[0014] Simply insert the thin glass between the two outer pieces of glass and apply the spacer strands on top of the two outer pieces of glass. There is no need to apply the spacer strands to the thin glass.

[0015] The inventors have recognized that applying flexible spacer strands to thin glass creates considerable problems. When the hot material of the thermoplastic spacer strands is applied to the thin glass, a large amount of heat is introduced into the thin glass at certain points, which causes it to become very deformed. It becomes wavy and further processing is impossible. This can be avoided with the present invention. The thermoplastic spacer strands applied to the outer glass are already sufficiently cooled when they are bonded to the thin glass at the press station. Furthermore, when the thin glass is placed on the finished spacer, heat is not introduced into the thin glass at certain points, but essentially uniformly along the entire edge. This prevents unacceptable high deformations and waviness of the thin glass and unacceptable high distortions and stresses of the thin glass.

[0016] The inventors have also recognized that flexible spacer strands, which are drawn from a supply roll and applied by machine to a glass sheet, are under prestress and, if applied directly to the thin glass, would cause the curvature of the thin glass to be unacceptably high.

[0017] The invention makes it possible to apply flexible spacer strands only to the two stable outer glasses, which, due to their high inherent stability, are able to fully compensate for the stresses introduced into the glass sheet when applying the spacer strands, so that when the outer glasses, which have spacer strands applied along their entire edge, are joined with the thinner glass, they no longer cause unacceptably high stresses and / or deformations in the thinner glass.

[0018] Using the present invention, triple insulating glass panes with thin glass can be manufactured very quickly and with short cycle times. Therefore, triple insulating glass panes with thin glass are available in large quantities and can be manufactured with the same thickness as conventional double insulating glass panes. Therefore, old insulating glass panes can be replaced with high insulating triple insulating glass panes without changing the structure of the window frame. This simplifies the modernization of buildings.

[0019] The use of spacers that are not pre-assembled to the shape of the frame means that glass sheets of special formats and / or glass sheets with non-rectangular outlines can be easily and flexibly processed into triple insulating glass panes.

[0020] With the present invention, an existing single track production line for manufacturing insulating glass can be adapted with relatively little effort and relatively little additional space to accommodate the assembly of triple insulating glass panes containing thin glass.

[0021] A further advantage of the device according to the invention is that it can also be used to produce double and triple insulating glass panes without thin glass very quickly and with very short cycle times, since the insulating glass panes can be assembled simultaneously in the first and second press stations, respectively, and filled with gas if necessary. In such a case, the turning station is not in operation. The glass sheets for the first insulating glass pane are transported through the first press station and the turning station to the second press station. No processing steps are carried out on the first insulating glass pane in the first press station and the turning station. While the first insulating glass pane is assembled in the second press station and filled with gas if necessary, the glass sheets for the second insulating glass pane are already transported to the first press station and assembled there. The assembly and gas filling of the second insulating glass pane in the first press station thus takes place in parallel with the assembly and gas filling of the first insulating glass pane in the second press station. The second insulating glass pane is then conveyed through the turning station and the second pressing station without any processing steps. Because the assembly and gas filling at the pressing station takes more time than the other stations in the production line, the apparatus of the present invention can significantly increase the overall productivity of the production line.

[0022] The apparatus may comprise a control system coupled to the coating station, the turning station and the two pressing stations. The control system is configured to control a station for assembling the thin glass and the two outer glasses to form a triple insulating glass pane. The apparatus may comprise a visual inspection station with a horizontal conveyor and a plurality, in particular three, support beams for supporting the glass sheet standing on the horizontal conveyor. The support beams extend in a horizontal direction. The support beams are equidistant from each other but displaceable up and down. Thus, the distance from the support beams to the horizontal conveyor can be adjusted.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the process, the thin glass supported by the first press plate is sucked onto the second press plate in the first press station. For this purpose, the first press station can have a suction device for sucking the thin glass onto the second press plate. The second press plate with the thin glass adsorbed thereon is then moved away from the first press plate. This is done by widening the distance between the two press plates. The first outer glass is transported to the first press station, where it is supported by the first press plate. In the first press station, the first outer glass is positioned coincident or concentric with the thin glass adsorbed on the second press plate. After the thin glass has been joined to the first outer glass, the adsorption of the thin glass to the second press plate is terminated. The length of the end of the thin glass can be several mm, for example 3 mm, less than the length of the end of the outer glass. In such a case, the thin glass can be raised in the first press station and / or the first outer glass can be lowered until the thin glass is positioned concentrically with the first outer glass. The raising and / or lowering can be achieved, for example, by tilting the conveyor belt of the horizontal conveyor of the first pressing station by a corresponding angle before the thin glass resting on the conveyor belt is sucked onto the corresponding press plate. Tilting the conveyor belt is known per se and is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,399,991. The first outer pane and the smaller thin glass are arranged relative to each other such that the edge of the thin glass is completely inside the edge of the first outer pane. Such a triple insulating glass pane is also called "four-sided stepped glass". In this way, the delicate edges of the thin glass are better protected from damage.

[0024] In a further embodiment, the thin glass supported by the first press plate can first be sucked onto the first press plate in the first press station. A second press plate is applied to the thin glass while the suction of the thin glass to the first press plate is continued. The thin glass is sucked onto the second press plate before the suction of the thin glass to the first press plate is terminated. Thus, the thin glass is held between the two press plates of the first press station for a certain time and is simultaneously sucked onto both press plates. This ensures that the flatness of the thin glass is particularly well maintained. The suction of the thin glass all over the surface can reduce distortion of the thin glass when it is subsequently placed onto the spacer strands of still warm thermoplastic resin.

[0025] In a further embodiment, the outer glass of the glass assembly can be sucked onto the second press plate of the second press station. Before the suction, the glass assembly is supported on the thin glass by the first press plate of the second press station. The second press plate with the glass assembly sucked thereon is separated from the first press plate. The second outer glass is transported to the second press station, where it is supported by the first press plate. In the second press station, the second outer glass is aligned or concentric with the first outer glass sucked on the second press plate. After the glass assembly is bonded to the second outer glass, the suction of the first outer glass to the second press plate is terminated.

[0026] For both the first and second outer glass panes, the spacer strands are applied to the surface of the outer glass facing the thin glass of the finished triple insulating glass pane, i.e., the surface of the outer glass located on the inside of the finished triple insulating glass pane. At the application station, each outer glass pane is supported on its surface, which will later form the outside of the insulating glass pane. During the transfer to the first pressing station, the first outer glass pane is supported on the surface that will later form the outside of the insulating glass pane. After the thin glass has been bonded to the first outer glass at the first pressing station, the standing glass assembly is supported on the first outer glass. The glass assembly is supported on the first outer glass while being transferred in a standing position to the turning station. The turning station is configured to rotate the glass assembly in a standing position, in particular about a vertical axis of rotation, and to transfer the turned glass assembly to a downstream station. The turning station is also configured to transfer the outer glass with the spacer strands to the downstream station without rotation. During the rotation of the glass assembly at the turning station, the side on which the glass assembly is supported is changed. For this purpose, the two parallel support walls of the turning station can be tilted around a horizontal axis. After the process in the turning station is finished, the glass assembly is supported on the thin glass. The glass assembly is transported in a vertical position to the second press station while still supported on the thin glass. The second outer glass is supported by its surface which will later form the outside of the insulating glass pane during its vertical transport to the second press station. The second outer glass is transported through the turning station without being turned. The assembled triple insulating glass pane is supported on the second outer glass during its transport in the second press station and in particular during its transport from the second press station.

[0027] In a further embodiment, the swivel station can have a base frame that is stationary on the floor. A rotating frame is attached to the base frame. The rotating frame is rotatable relative to the base frame. For this purpose, a swivel joint can be arranged between the rotating frame and the base frame. The axis of rotation of the swivel joint is vertical or on a plunging straight line. A tilting frame is attached to the rotating frame. The tilting frame is tiltable about a tilting axle that is horizontal relative to the rotating frame. The tilting joint is arranged between the rotating frame and the tilting frame. The support wall and the horizontal conveyor are fixed to the tilting frame and are in particular immobile relative to each other. The tilting axle extends parallel to the conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor. The tilting axle is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The tilting joint and the tilting frame and all parts fixed thereto rotate in a horizontal plane during rotation with the rotating frame. This prevents the horizontal conveyor and / or the support wall from contacting the floor with one of its outer ends during rotation.

[0028] In a further embodiment, one of the stations can have an air cushion support wall with a planar support surface. This support wall is configured to support the glass sheet transported in a standing position on the horizontal conveyor. A number of air ducts can open into the support surface. When subjected to positive pressure, air flows emerge from the air ducts at an angle to the support surface. This creates an air cushion on the support surface, whereby the transported glass sheet, in particular the thin glass, can rest and slide without contacting the support surface. An obliquely upward blowing flow is generated on the support wall. This means that a machine operator standing in front of the station is not blown directly away. At least one of the air ducts, in particular each air duct, can include a terminal duct section that extends obliquely to the support surface. In a vertical cross section through the support wall, the terminal duct section can extend at an angle of less than 45°, in particular between 30° and 45°, to the support surface. Such an inclined blowing flow can form an air cushion that makes the transport of the thin glass easier. In particular, the first pressing station can be configured with such an air cushion support wall. The air cushion support wall can be formed by a first press plate. The intermediate station can be arranged between the application station and the first press station. The intermediate station comprises a horizontal conveyor and an air cushion support wall according to the invention. The intermediate station can be used for temporary storage of the glass sheet. The glass sheet leaving the station upstream of the intermediate station can wait there until it is transported to the station downstream of the intermediate station. The device according to the invention can comprise several such intermediate stations.

[0029] At least one of the press plates, in particular the first press plate of the first press station, can have a planar support surface into which a number of air ducts open, which form a suction device when subjected to negative pressure in order to suck the thin glass plane against the support surface. The air ducts of the press plate can be pressurized either negatively or positively. This allows the functions of suction device and air cushion support wall to be combined in the press plate. The press plate can therefore optionally function as an air cushion support wall during transport or to hold the glass sheet in place by suction during assembly.

[0030] The support surface may have at least one recess connected to the terminal duct section of the air duct. The recess may be circular, in particular with a diameter of 20 mm or less. A recess may be provided in each terminal duct section. The recess may also surround the terminal duct. The recess is open towards the support surface. The support surface may have at least one groove connected to the terminal duct section. In particular, the groove may extend from a recess surrounding the terminal duct section. The groove extends along the support surface and is open towards the support surface. The terminal duct section may open obliquely into the recess or into the groove. All terminal duct sections may extend parallel to each other.

[0031] When processing thin glass with a thickness of 2 mm or less, the groove width is 20 mm or less. When processing thin glass with a thickness of 1.5 mm or less, the groove width can in particular be 15 mm or less. When processing thin glass with a thickness of 1 mm or less, the groove width can in particular be 10 mm or less. This ensures that the thin glass extending beyond the groove without a support is not deformed by the negative pressure in the air duct. The thin glass can thus be sucked onto the support surface in a particularly planar manner and without undesirable waviness.

[0032] The groove may include at least two groove portions extending obliquely from each other. Both groove portions extend along a straight line. The length of each groove portion may be 60 mm or less. This is particularly effective in preventing thin glass from elastically deforming due to negative pressure and bulging into the groove portion. A plurality of groove portions may be arranged on the support surface, and these groove portions are connected to one end of the duct portion. In a plan view of the support surface, the plurality of grooves may extend radially toward said one end of the duct portion. The grooves may be arranged, for example, like radial beams around said one end of the duct portion.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the support surface can have a first support area and a second support area. The air duct density in the first support area can be greater than in the second support area of ​​the support surface. The air duct density in the support area is defined as the number of air ducts opening into this support area divided by the total area of ​​this support area. The first support area can extend along the edge in the lower area of ​​the support wall. When subjected to positive pressure, more air is ejected from the first support area. This can reliably prevent the lower edge of the thin glass from colliding with the support surface during transport on the horizontal conveyor. The suction area ratio in the first support area sucked by the air ducts can be greater than in the second support area, in particular by increasing the area subjected to negative pressure by means of recesses and / or grooves. The suction area ratio in the support area is the area subjected to negative pressure divided by the total area of ​​said support area. In this way, the thin glass can be sucked onto the support surface in a particularly planar manner.

[0034] Further details and advantages of the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings, in which identical and corresponding components are provided with corresponding reference symbols. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing the arrangement of the apparatus according to the invention and some intermediate steps in the assembly of a triple insulating glass pane. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a further intermediate step in the assembly of a triple insulating glass pane; [Diagram 3] Schematic side view of the completed triple insulating glass pane [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a visual inspection station of an apparatus according to the invention; [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a turning station of the device according to the invention; [Figure 6] 6 is a schematic top view of the turning station shown in FIG. [Figure 7] 6 is a schematic side view of the turning station of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a support wall for an apparatus according to the invention; [Figure 9] Enlarged view of area X in Figure 8 [Figure 10] Close-up of a vertical section through the supporting wall in region X DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] 1 and 2 show a schematic of an apparatus 1 for assembling a triple insulating glass pane 10, often referred to as a production line, shown in FIG. 3. The insulating glass pane 10 includes three glass sheets 11, 12, 13. The first glass sheet 11 is a thin glass having a thickness of 1 mm or less. The second glass sheet 12 is a first outer glass having a first surface 121 facing the thin glass 11 and forming the inner surface of the insulating glass pane 10. The second surface 122 of the outer glass 12 forms the outer surface of the insulating glass pane 10. The third glass sheet 13 is a second outer glass having a first surface 131 and a second surface 132, forming the inner and outer surfaces of the triple insulating glass pane 10, respectively. A first flexible spacer strand 14 is arranged between the first outer glass 12 and the thin glass 11, forming a spacer frame, known per se, along the edge of the first outer glass 12, which holds the two glass sheets 11, 12 at a predetermined distance from each other. A second flexible spacer strand 15 is therefore arranged between the outer glass 13 and the thin glass 11.

[0037] The device 1 comprises a visual inspection station 2, several intermediate stations, a coating station 4, a first pressing station 5, a turning station 6 and a second pressing station 8. Intermediate stations 31, 32, 33 and 34 are provided between the other stations as transport tracks and / or intermediate storage. Intermediate station 35 is arranged downstream of second pressing station 8 for removing the finished triple insulating glass panes 10. Each of intermediate stations 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 may comprise, in a manner known per se, a single-track horizontal conveyor and a support wall (neither shown). The visual inspection station 2 comprises, with reference to FIG. 4, a horizontal conveyor 20 mounted on a frame 21 and formed by a row of a plurality of drivable transport rollers 22. Such a horizontal conveyor 20 is known per se. A glass sheet, for example a thin glass 11 of the illustrated intermediate step, rests with its lower edge 111 on the horizontal conveyor 20. The visual inspection station 2 has three support beams 23, 24, 25, which extend horizontally and lie in a plane slightly inclined to the vertical in order to support the thin glass 11 in an upright position. Depending on the height of the glass sheet to be inspected, the support beams 23, 24, 25 are moved up or down. The top support beam 25 is moved so as to support the thin glass 11 as far upwards as possible on its end. The two support beams 23 and 24 are moved so that the distance between the horizontal conveyor 20 and the support beam 23 and the distance between the three support beams 23, 24, 25 are equal. In this way, the thin glass 11 is supported very well so that it does not bend to an unacceptable extent. At the same time, the surface of the thin glass 11 is almost not covered by the support beams, so that any defects in the thin glass 11 can be easily detected. The application station 4 is installed in a manner known per se for applying a paste-like, hardening spacer strand of thermoplastic material to the glass sheet, and therefore does not need to be described in detail.

[0038] During the manufacture of triple insulating glass pane 10 according to the invention, thin glass 11 is fed as a first glass sheet to visual inspection station 2 where it is inspected for defects. The thin glass 11 is then transported in a vertical position from coating station 4 to intermediate station 32 via intermediate station 31. The first outer glass 12 is fed as a second glass sheet to visual inspection station 2. The outer glass 12 is inspected for defects and then transported to intermediate station 31. The second outer glass 13 is then transported as a third glass sheet to visual inspection station 2 where it is inspected for defects. See intermediate step A in FIG. 1.

[0039] The three glass sheets 11, 12, 13 are transported simultaneously until the thin glass 11 reaches the first pressing station 5 and the outer glass 12 reaches the application station 4. In the application station 4, a first spacer strand 14 is applied to the outer glass 12 in a manner known per se to form a closed spacer frame along the edge of the outer glass 12. The outer glass 13 is in a waiting position in an intermediate station 31, see intermediate step B in FIG. 1.

[0040] The first pressing station 5 has a single-track horizontal conveyor 50, a first pressing plate 51 and a second pressing plate 52. The horizontal conveyor 50 is designed in a manner known per se and is shown diagrammatically with dashed lines. The first pressing plate 51 is arranged in a fixed position. The standing pressing plate 51 is inclined slightly backwards with respect to the vertical and supports the thin glass sheets 11 in the standing position on the horizontal conveyor 50 against tipping forward, i.e. away from the pressing plate 51. The pressing plate 51 forms a support wall 53 with a planar support surface 54. The vertical or plumb line is shown in FIG. 10 by a dotted line 55. The support surface 54 has an angle of 8° with respect to the vertical line 55 in order to support the glass sheets standing on the horizontal conveyor 50 and leaning against the support wall 53 and to prevent them from inadvertently tipping forward. The support surface 54 is formed by a rubber lining 56 on the support wall 53. The support wall 53 is designed as an air-cushion support wall and contains a number of air ducts 57. The air duct 57 opens into the support surface 54. See Figs. 8 to 10. The first duct part 571 of the air duct 57 is formed by a blind hole drilled into the support wall 53 from the rear. The end duct part 572 of the air duct 57 is connected to the duct part 571 and extends at an angle W to the support surface 54. The angle W is 30°. The diameter of the end duct part 572 is 3 mm to 6 mm, in particular 4 mm. When the air duct 57 is overpressurized, the air flow exits at an angle to the support surface 54. In order not to impede the air flow exiting the support surface 54, the rubber lining 56 includes an elliptical hole 561 surrounding the end duct part 572. In this way, the air duct 57 extends as a through-passage through the support wall 53 to the side of the support wall 53 opposite the support surface 54.

[0041] The second press plate 52 is arranged parallel to the press plate 51 and the support surface 54. The press plate 52 is linearly displaceable transversely to the conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor 50, so that the distance between the two press plates 51, 52 varies. The press plate 52 is provided with a suction device (not shown) for suctioning the glass sheet supported by the press plate 51 to the press plate 52. The press plate 52 to which the glass sheet has been suctioned can be separated from the press plate 51. The design of a press station having such features is known per se, and therefore will not be described in further detail.

[0042] The thin glass 11 is attracted to the press plate 52 and leaves the press plate 51 together, as will be described in more detail below. After the spacer strands 14 are applied to the outer glass 12, it is transported to the intermediate station 32. The outer glass 13 is transported to the application station 4 where a second spacer strand 15 is applied to the outer glass 13.

[0043] The horizontal conveyor 50 is freed when the thin glass 11 adsorbed on the press plate 52 leaves the press plate 51. The outer glass 12 can then be transported by the horizontal conveyor 50 into the first press station 5 until it coincides with the thin glass 11. The press plate 52 with the thin glass 11 adsorbed thereon is returned towards the press plate 51 until the thin glass 11 rests on the spacer strands 14 and is at a predetermined distance from the outer glass 12. Before the thin glass 11 comes to rest completely on the spacer strands 14, the space between the thin glass 11 and the outer glass 12 can be filled with a gas other than air in a manner known per se to enhance the insulating effect. The thin glass 11 and the outer glass 12 are then joined together to form a glass assembly 16. The outer glass 13 with the spacer strands 15 applied thereto is transported to the intermediate station 32. See intermediate step D in FIG. 1.

[0044] The distance between the press plates 51 and 52 increases again and the glass assembly 16 is transported via the intermediate station 33 to the turning station 6. At the same time, the outer glass 13 is transported through the first press station 5 to the intermediate station 33, see intermediate step E in FIG.

[0045] The swivel station 6, with reference to Figs. 5 to 7, comprises a single-track horizontal conveyor 60, a first support wall 61 and a second support wall 62. The horizontal conveyor 60 is constructed in a manner known per se. The swivel station 6 further comprises a base frame 63, which stands stationary on the floor, to which a rotating frame 64 is attached. Between the rotating frame 64 and the base frame 63, a swivel joint 65 with a vertical rotation axis 66 is arranged. The swivel joint 65 is designed as a swivel ring with a number of guide rollers 67 arranged along the circumference. A rotary drive 68 is integrated into the swivel station 6, by means of which the rotating frame 64 can be rotated around the vertical rotation axis 66 in the direction of the arrow Y. A tilting frame 70 is attached to the rotating frame 64. Between the rotating frame 64 and the tilting frame 70, a tilting joint 71 with a horizontal tilting axle 72 is arranged. The tilting axle 72 runs perpendicular to the drawing plane of Fig. 7. For tilting the tilting frame 70 relative to the rotating frame 64 in the direction of the arrow Z about a tilting axle 72, a tilting drive 73 in the form of a pressure medium cylinder is provided.

[0046] When the glass assembly 16 is transported in an upright position from the first press station 5 to the turning station 6, the glass assembly 16 is supported on the outer side 122 of the glass sheet 12. When the glass assembly 16 is transported to the turning station 6, the horizontal conveyors 50 and 60 are in a straight line, and the support wall 61 is in a plane with the press plate 51. The glass assembly 16 is then rotated 180° in the direction of the arrow Y via the rotary drive 68. Simultaneously with the rotational movement in the direction of the arrow Y, the glass assembly 16 is tilted in the direction of the arrow Z via the tilting drive 73. When the horizontal conveyor 60 is tilted together with the support walls 61, 62, the glass assembly 16 also moves away from the support wall 61 and tilts towards the support wall 62. When the tilting process is completed, the glass assembly 16 is supported on the thin glass 11 by the support wall 62. After the completion of the turning and tilting process, the horizontal conveyor 60 is again aligned with the horizontal conveyor 50, and the support wall 62 is in a plane with the press plate 51. See intermediate step F in FIG.

[0047] After the glass assembly 16 has rotated, the glass assembly 16 and the outer glass 13 are transported forward. The glass assembly 16 in a vertical position is supported on the thin glass 11 and transported to the second pressing station 8. The outer glass 13 is transported in a vertical position without rotation in the turning station 6 and is supported on the outer side 132 by the supporting wall 62. See intermediate step G in FIG. 2.

[0048] The second press station 8 comprises a single-track horizontal conveyor 80, a first press plate 81 and a second press plate 82. The first press plate 81 is arranged in a fixed position and is inclined slightly backwards with respect to the vertical. The first press plate 81 supports the glass assembly 16 in a standing position on the horizontal conveyor 80 so that it does not tilt forward, i.e. towards the side facing away from the first press plate 81. The first press plate 81 forms an air cushion support wall with a planar support surface, which is arranged in plane with the support surface 54 of the press plate 51. The second press plate 82 is arranged parallel to the first press plate 81 and is linearly displaceable transversely to the conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor 80 so that the distance between the two press plates 81, 82 varies. The second press plate 82 includes a suction device (not shown) known per se, which allows the glass assembly 16 supported by the first press plate 81 to be sucked onto the second press plate 82. The glass assembly 16 is adsorbed to the press plate 82 with the outer glass 12. The press plate 82 then leaves the press plate 81 with the glass assembly 16 adsorbed thereto. The horizontal conveyor 80 is now free and can transport the outer glass 13 to the second press station 8. When the outer glass 13 stands in line with the outer glass 12, the press plate 82 with the glass assembly 16 adsorbed thereto is moved back towards the press plate 81. The distance between the two press plates 81 and 82 is reduced, as can be seen in the intermediate step H of FIG. 2, until the thin glass 11 rests on the spacer strands 15 and the first outer glass 12 is at a predetermined distance relative to the second outer glass 13. Before the thin glass 11 comes to rest completely on the spacer strands 15, the space between the thin glass 11 and the outer glass 13 can be filled with a gas other than air in a manner known per se.

[0049] The suction of the outer glass pane 12 onto the press plate 82 is terminated and the distance between the press plates 81 and 82 is increased again. The assembled triple insulating glass pane 10 is then transported by the horizontal conveyor 80 and the intermediate station 35, during which the insulating glass pane 10 in an upright position is supported on the outer side 132.

[0050] The air duct 57 of the press plate 51 can be pressurized with negative or positive pressure. When pressurized with negative pressure, a suction device 90 is formed to suck the flexible thin glass 11 onto the support surface 53 as flat as possible. Referring to FIG. 9, the suction device 90 is composed of the air duct 57, a circular depression 91 and a number of grooves 92. The depression 91 surrounds the end duct portion 572 and communicates with it. The depression 91 opens toward the support surface 54 and has a diameter of 20 mm or less. The groove 92 extends radially toward the end duct portion 572 and opens into the depression 91. The groove 92 may be composed of a number of groove portions 921, 922. The two groove portions 921 and 922 extend obliquely to each other. The length L of the linearly extending groove portions 921, 922 is at most 60 mm. The width B of the groove 92 is about 8 mm. The depth T of the recesses 91 and the grooves 92 is at most 1 mm. The recesses 91 may be slightly deeper than the grooves 92. The support surface 54 has a first support area 93, in which the air duct density is greater than in the second support area 94. This improves the air cushion transport of the thin glass 11. In the first support area 93, the suction area ratio subjected to negative pressure by the air ducts 57 is greater than in the second support area 94. The suction device 90 includes four grooves 92 in the support area 93 and five grooves 92 in the support area 94. The third support area 95 is arranged in the lower corner area of ​​the support wall 53, in which the proportion of the surface area to be suctioned is even greater than in the support area 93. This is achieved by several grooves 92 connected to several air ducts 57 and crossing each other. The support wall 53 is provided with holes 96 for accommodating sensors. The suction device 90 leaves the area of ​​the holes 96.

[0051] By means of the suction device 90 according to the invention, the thin glass sheet 11 is first sucked onto the first press plate 51 of the first press station 5. The design of the suction device 90 makes it possible to ensure that the thin glass sheet 11 lies in a particularly planar manner against the support surface 54 and without the formation of waves. Due to the different suction effects in the support areas 93, 94, 95, the thin glass sheet first comes into contact with the support surface 54 in the support area 95. Starting from this corner, the thin glass sheet 11 then comes into contact with the support surface 54 in the support areas 93 and 94. Due to this suction process, starting from the corner of the thin glass sheet 11, the thin glass sheet 11 comes into contact with the support surface 54 all over and in a particularly planar manner. The formation of air pockets between the support surface 54 and the thin glass sheet 11, which would cause the thin glass sheet 11 to waviness, is avoided. The suction of the thin glass sheet 11 to the first press plate 51 is maintained while the thin glass sheet 11 is sucked onto the second press plate 52. Only after the thin glass pane 11 has been sucked onto the second press plate 52 does the suction onto the first press plate 51 cease. As a result, as already mentioned above, the thin glass pane 11 can be transferred very flat to the second press plate 52 and placed onto the spacers 14. The suction device of the second press plate 52 can be designed in a manner known per se and can also comprise a suction device 90 according to the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1...device 10...Insulating glass pane 11...Thin glass sheet 111…Lower edge 12…Outer glass sheet 121…Surface / Inside 122…Surface / Outside 13…Outer glass sheet 131…Surface / Inside 132…Surface / Outside 14…Spacer strand 15…Spacer strand 16…Glass assembly 2. Visual inspection station 20...Horizontal conveyor 21...Frame 22...Transport roller 23…Support beam 24…Support beam 25…Support beam 31...Intermediate station 32...Intermediate station 33…Intermediate station 34…Intermediate station 35…Intermediate station 4…Application station 5…First Press Station 50...Horizontal conveyor 51…Press plate 52…Press plate 53…Supporting wall 54...Support surface 55…Vertical line 56...Rubber lining 561...Oval hole 57…Air duct 571…Duct section 572…Terminal duct section 6. Turning station 60...Single track horizontal conveyor 61…Supporting wall 62…Supporting wall 63…Base frame 64...Rotating frame 65…Swivel joint 66…Vertical rotation axis 67...Guide roller 68...Rotational drive unit 70...Tilted frame 71...Inclined joint 72...Tilting axle 73...Tilting Drive 8…Second Press Station 80...Horizontal conveyor 81…Press plate 82…Press plate 90...Suction device 91…Hollow 92...Groove 921…Groove 922… groove part 93… support area 94… support area 95… support area 96… hole

Claims

1. A method for assembling a triple insulating glass pane (10) including two outer panes (12, 13) and a thin pane of glass (11) between them, comprising: the thin glass (11) in a vertical position is conveyed through a coating station (4) to a first pressing station (5); a first outer glass (12) being conveyed in an upright position to said coating station (4); At the application station (4), first flexible spacer strands (14) are applied onto the first outer glass (12) to form a frame-shaped spacer; After application of the spacer strands (14), the first outer glass (12) is conveyed in a vertical position from the application station (4) to the first press station (5); a second outer glass (13) being conveyed in a vertical position to said coating station (4); At the application station (4), second flexible spacer strands (15) are applied to the second outer glass (13) to form a frame-shaped spacer; in the first press station (5), the thin glass (11) is placed on the first spacer strands (14) and a distance between the thin glass (11) and the first outer glass (12) is reduced until the thin glass (11) is at a predetermined distance relative to the first outer glass (12), thereby bonding the thin glass (11) and the first outer glass (12) to form a glass assembly (16); the glass assembly (16) being transported in an upright position from the first pressing station (5) to a turning station (6) where it is turned about an upright axis of rotation (66); After turning, the glass assembly (16) is transported in an upright position from the turning station (6) to a second pressing station (8); the second outer glass (13) is transported in a vertical position from the coating station (4), through the first press station (5), through the turning station (6) and to the second press station (8); in the second press station (8), the thin glass (11) is placed on the second spacer strands (15) and the distance between the glass assembly (16) and the second outer glass (13) is reduced until the first outer glass (12) is at a predetermined distance relative to the second outer glass (13), thereby bonding the glass assembly (16) and the second outer glass (13) to form the triple insulating glass pane (10); the triple insulating glass pane (10) is conveyed from the second press station (8) in an upright position after bonding; A method for assembling a triple insulating glass pane comprising:

2. In claim 1, In the first press station (5), the thin glass (11) supported by a first press plate (51) is sucked onto a second press plate (52) of the first press station (5); a step of separating the second press plate (52) to which the thin glass (11) is adsorbed from the first press plate (51); the first outer glass (12) being transported to the first press station (5) where it is supported by the first press plate (51); a step of terminating the adsorption of the thin glass (11) to the second press plate (52) after the thin glass (11) is joined to the first outer glass (12); A method for assembling a triple insulating glass pane comprising:

3. In claim 2, In the first press station (5), the thin glass (11) supported by the first press plate (51) is first sucked onto the first press plate (51); and before suction of the thin glass (11) to the first press plate (51) is completed, sucking the thin glass (11) to the second press plate (52).

4. In any one of claims 1 to 3, In the second press station (8), the outer glass (12) of the glass assembly (16) supported by a first press plate (81) is sucked onto a second press plate (82) of the second press station (8); the second press plate (82) to which the glass assembly (16) is attached is separated from the first press plate (81); the second outer glass (13) being conveyed to the second press station (8) where it is supported by the first press plate (81); and c terminating the suction of the first outer glass (12) to the second press plate (82) after the glass assembly (16) is bonded to the second outer glass (13).

5. An apparatus (1) for assembling a triple insulating glass pane (10) including two outer panes (12, 13) and a thin pane (11) between them, comprising: an application station (4) configured to apply flexible spacer strands (14; 15) along the edge of said outer glass pane (12; 13) in an upright position; a first press station (5) arranged downstream of said coating station (4) and having a horizontal conveyor (50) and two parallel press plates (51, 52), the distance between which can be varied whilst maintaining their parallelism, of which the first press plate (51) forms an upright support wall (53) for said glass sheet (11; 12; 13) transported in an upright position on said horizontal conveyor (50); a turning station (6) arranged downstream of the first pressing station (5) and having two parallel support walls (61, 62) and a horizontal conveyor (60) assigned to both support walls (61, 62) and rotatable together with the support walls (61, 62) about an upright rotation axis (66) arranged centrally relative to the horizontal conveyor (60) as viewed along the conveying direction; a second press station (8) arranged downstream of the turning station (6) and having a horizontal conveyor (80) and two parallel press plates (81, 82), the distance between which can be varied while maintaining their parallelism, of which the first press plate (81) forms the upright support wall (53) for the glass sheet (13) transported in an upright position on the horizontal conveyor (80).

6. In claim 5, A visual inspection station (2) comprising a horizontal conveyor (20) and a number of, in particular three, support beams (23, 24, 25) for supporting the glass sheets (11; 12; 13) in a standing position on the horizontal conveyor (20), the support beams (23, 24, 25) extending horizontally, equidistant from one another and vertically displaceable. A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

7. In claim 5, The turning station (6) A rotating frame (64) is attached to a base frame (63) that is stationary on the floor, The rotating frame (64) is rotatable relative to the base frame (63) around the vertical rotation axis (66) via a swivel joint (65); a tilting frame (70) attached to the rotating frame (64) and tiltable about a horizontal tilting axle (72) relative to the rotating frame (64) via a tilt joint (71); The support walls (61, 62) and the horizontal conveyor (60) are fixed to an inclined frame (70). A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

8. In claim 5, At least one of the stations (2, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 4, 5, 6, 8), in particular the first pressing station (5), has an air cushion support wall (53) with a planar support surface (54), A plurality of air ducts (57) are open to the support surface (54) and configured to emit airflows from the air ducts (57) obliquely relative to the support surface (54) when a positive pressure is applied. A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

9. In claim 8, The support surface (54) comprises a first support area (93) and a second support area (94), the air duct density in the first support area (93) being greater than the air duct density in the second support area (94), the air duct density being defined as the number of the air ducts (57) per square meter of the support surface (54). A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

10. In any one of claims 5 to 9, At least one of the press plates (51, 52, 81, 82), in particular the first press plate (51) of the first press station (5), has a planar support surface (54) into which a number of air ducts (57) open, the air ducts (57) being configured to form a suction device (90) under negative pressure for sucking the planar thin glass (11) onto the support surface (54). A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

11. In claim 10, The support surface (54) of the first press plate (51) has at least one recess (91) that communicates with the terminal duct portion (572) of the air duct (57). A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

12. In claim 10, The support surface (54) of the press plate (51) has at least one groove (92) which communicates with the terminal duct portion (572) of the air duct (57), in particular with a recess (91) surrounding the terminal duct portion (572). A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

13. In claim 12, The groove (92) includes at least two groove portions (921, 922) extending obliquely to each other. A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

14. In claim 10, The support surface (54) has a first support region (93) and a second support region (94), and the suction area ratio in the first support region (93) is greater than the suction area ratio in the second support region (94), and the suction area ratio is defined as the quotient of the area subjected to negative pressure by the air duct (57) and the total area of ​​each of the support regions (93; 94). A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

15. In claim 10, The air duct (57) in the first press plate (51) can be optionally subjected to negative or positive pressure. A triple insulating glass pane assembly device comprising:

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