Method and device for attaching spacer frames

Abstract

To attach a spacer frame (18) to a substantially vertical glass pane during the production of insulating glass, a spacer frame (18) having a substantially vertical position is provided. The upper horizontal limb (19) of the spacer frame (18) is lifted by frame lifters (21) into a position oriented relative to the upper edge of the glass pane and is directed into a straight shape. The upper horizontal limb (19) of the spacer frame (18) is held by frame grippers (13) and attached to the glass pane by pressing devices (16). After attachment of the upper horizontal limb (19) of the spacer frame (18), the other limbs of the spacer frame (18) are attached to the glass pane.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ATTACHING SPACEBAR FRAMES

[0002] The invention relates to a method for attaching spacer frames to glass panes during the manufacture of insulating glass.

[0003] The invention further relates to a device with which spacer frames can be attached to glass panes during the manufacture of insulating glass.

[0004] Insulating glass comprises at least two panes of glass with a spacer frame between them.

[0005] The precise positioning of rigid spacer frames, coated on their sides with sealant and adhesive (e.g., in the form of a butyl rubber bead), on glass panes must be ensured to maintain the correct distance from the outer edge of the glass pane all around. This ensures that, after the assembly of an insulating glass unit, a perimeter joint of the correct depth is present, bounded laterally by the edges of the glass pane and inwards by the outer surface of the spacer frame. Filler is then applied to this perimeter joint when the insulating glass unit is sealed. The precise positioning of these spacer frames, which are coated on their sides with sealant and adhesive and are transferred from the spacer coating station to a frame installation station, must prevent the sealant from contaminating the glass panes.

[0006] Several proposals have been made in the prior art concerning the attachment of spacer frames to glass panes. WO 2023 / 057839 A1 discloses the manufacture of rigid spacer frames and their attachment to a glass pane. A movable support is to be raised to attach the spacer frame to a glass pane that is leaning against a support surface. The upper horizontal leg of the spacer frame, which is held at multiple points by support elements, is brought close to the glass pane only after the lower horizontal leg. The support elements have hinged hooks that are removed from the spacer frame for attachment. In this known method, spacer frames are held at all legs of the spacer frame, so that the legs are straight.However, with this known method, the glass pane to which the spacer frame is to be attached can only be moved into the attachment station after the spacer frame has been positioned.

[0007] In WO 2021 / 059123 Al (= EP 4 034 742 Bl), a frame-shaped support is pivoted from a horizontal position (Fig. 4) to a vertical position (Fig. 5) and then fitted with a spacer frame. The spacer frame is held by supports on all legs. As shown in Fig. 10, all legs of the spacer frame are simultaneously attached to a glass pane by the support.

[0008] US 11,536,083 B2 teaches the application of rigid spacer frames to glass panes using a robotic arm. The robotic arm has a gripper frame. The gripper frame grasps all four legs of the spacer frames.

[0009] EP 1 199 437 A2 discloses a system for manufacturing, filling, coating, and transporting rigid spacer frames. What is to be done with the "finished" spacer frames is only hinted at. CH 659 506 A5 discloses the attachment of spacer frames to glass panes. Spacer frames are held on all four legs by clamps attached to a frame.

[0010] By moving the frame towards a glass pane and retracting the mounting pins, the spacer frame is attached to the glass pane with all four legs simultaneously.

[0011] Regarding the state of the art, DE 20 2020 002 040 Ul, AT 695 578 A and AT 153 486 A should also be mentioned.

[0012] In a device for attaching spacer frames to glass panes according to EP 0 248 785 Bl, the spacer frames are held by clamps on a frame-like bracket. The upper leg of the bracket is adjustable up and down and carries grippers with which spacer frames can be removed from an overhead conveyor. The "sagging" of the lower horizontal legs of the spacer frames is mentioned. The upper horizontal legs of the spacer frames are to be held by hooks of the overhead conveyor or by the grippers. The frame-like bracket with the spacer frames attached to it is brought close to the glass pane, and all legs of the spacer frames are attached simultaneously.

[0013] AT 383 580 B discloses a device for transferring spacer frames from a conveyor to an insertion device. The transfer device has ring claws with which the spacer frames can be lifted into the insertion device. Details of the insertion device are not disclosed. Figure 1d shows that the spacer frames are to be transferred into the insertion station first with their lower leg.

[0014] The process of “straightening” and lifting an upper horizontal leg of a spacer frame, and the step of first attaching this leg, is not known in the prior art.

[0015] The invention is based on the objective of making the attachment of spacer frames to glass panes safe and simple, even when the spacer frames have particularly large dimensions. This objective is achieved with a method comprising the features of claim 1.

[0016] Insofar as the device according to the invention is concerned, the problem underlying the invention is solved with a device which has the features of the independent claim directed to the device.

[0017] Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention on the one hand and the device according to the invention on the other hand are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0018] Spacer frames that can be attached to a glass pane using the inventive method and device are essentially rigid spacer frames. Such spacer frames consist, for example, of essentially rigid hollow profile strips. Spacer frames comprise, for example, several (e.g., four) sections of hollow profile strips with corner connectors at the corners of the spacer frame, or a section of a hollow profile strip that has been bent at the corners to form a spacer frame.

[0019] In particular, the device according to the invention can be used to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0020] Since, in the inventive method, the upper horizontal leg of the spacer frame to be attached is lifted and straightened so that it does not sag, the invention makes it possible to position the upper horizontal leg of the spacer frame at a height that can be easily reached by an operator standing on the ground. With the invention, even with larger spacer frames, the operator does not need to stand on a ladder or an elevated platform ("access aid") when the spacer frame is positioned for attachment to a glass pane.

[0021] An advantage of the invention is that when applying the inventive method and with the inventive device, spacer frames can be attached to glass panes without difficulty and without the use of climbing aids, regardless of their height (height = dimension of a substantially vertical spacer frame), whereby even large heights are possible.

[0022] An advantage of the invention is that in a possible

[0023] Furthermore, the design allows for the lifting of the upper horizontal legs using frame lifters. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the entire horizontal stop to align it with the position of the upper horizontal leg of the spacer frame to be attached.

[0024] Providing spacer frames is particularly easy if, according to an exemplary procedure, the upper horizontal leg of the spacer frame is hooked into frame lifters with hooks, which are adjustable up and down parallel to the plane of the glass pane, before being lifted. To lift the upper horizontal leg of the spacer frame, the frame lifters are moved upwards. Preferably, the upper horizontal leg of the spacer frame is inserted into frame lifters that are moved downwards, and the frame lifters then raise the upper horizontal leg of the spacer frame into a position aligned with the upper edge of the glass pane.

[0025] Further details and advantages of the method and device according to the invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention and an example of the implementation of the method according to the invention. It shows:

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a device for attaching spacer frames,

[0027] Fig. 2 shows the device from Fig. 1 in a different working position,

[0028] Fig. 3 shows a partial side view of the device from Fig.

[0029] 2,

[0030] Fig. 4 shows a detail of the device from Fig. 1 in oblique view.

[0031] Fig. 5 in oblique view shows an assembly for gripping the upper horizontal leg of a spacer frame; Fig. 6 in side view shows the assembly of Fig. 5.

[0032] Figs. 7a to 7c show a detail of the device from Fig. 1 in oblique view in different positions, Fig. 8 shows an adjustable assembly in oblique view,

[0033] Fig. 9 shows the device from Fig. 1 with a spacer frame,

[0034] Fig. 10 shows a partial side view of the device from Fig.

[0035] 9,

[0036] Fig. 11 shows a partial side view of the device from Fig. 1 when the upper horizontal leg of a spacer frame is hooked into the frame lifter and

[0037] Figures 12 to 15 show the steps involved in transferring a spacer frame from frame lifters to frame grippers. A device 1 comprises a support wall 2, optionally divided, for a glass pane, to which a spacer frame 18 is attached. The support wall 2 is essentially vertically oriented (inclined backwards by 5-8° to the vertical) and can be designed as an air cushion wall, a roller array (with support rollers 3), or a roller array. A conveying device, for example, a series of conveyor rollers or a conveyor belt (optionally multi-sectioned), is provided at the lower edge of the support wall 2.

[0038] Spacer frames that can be attached to a glass pane using the inventive method and device 1 are essentially rigid spacer frames. Such spacer frames consist, for example, of essentially rigid hollow profile strips. Spacer frames comprise, for example, several (e.g., four) sections of hollow profile strips with corner connectors at the corners of the spacer frame, or a section of a hollow profile strip that has been bent at the corners to form a spacer frame. Even with

[0039] With a “rigid” spacer frame, the upper horizontal leg sags in an arc shape when the spacer frame is essentially vertical, as shown in Fig. 9.

[0040] A glass pane, to which a spacer frame 18 is to be attached, is moved into a predetermined position (“working position”) in which it leans backwards at an angle of approximately 5–8° against the support wall 2. The glass pane to which a spacer frame 18 is to be attached can—in the production of multiple insulating glass units, such as triple insulating glass units—be a glass pane of an insulating glass blank that has two glass panes and a spacer frame 18 between them.

[0041] In front of the retaining wall 2, a horizontal beam 4 is provided, which is guided on a frame of the device 1 and can be moved up and down in a plane parallel to the retaining wall 2 in front of the retaining wall 2.

[0042] Parallel to beam 4, a support 5, which is essentially horizontally oriented, is provided.

[0043] The support 5 is adjustably mounted on the beam 4 transversely to the plane of the retaining wall 2, so that it can be moved closer to and away from the retaining wall 2. For this purpose, the support 5 is connected to the beam 4 via adjustment devices 6 (see Figs. 7a to 7c). The adjustment devices 6 comprise a substantially horizontally oriented guide 7 attached to the beam 4, on which a carriage 8 is guided. The carriage 8 has a downward-pointing leg 9 to which the support 5 is attached. Drives 10 and 10' are provided for moving the carriage 8 and thus the support 5.

[0044] The drives 10 and 10' of the adjustment devices 6 are, in particular, pneumatic drives, both of which act perpendicular to the plane of the support wall 2. With the aid of the drives 10 and 10', the support 5, and thus the assemblies 12 and 25, can be selectively moved into one of the positions

[0045] - "Hanging an upper horizontal leg into hook 23 of frame lifters 21" (position of the adjusting devices 6 according to Fig. 7b, position of the frame lifters 21 according to Fig. 11) and "Transferring the upper horizontal leg 19 of frame lifters 21 to frame gripper 13" (position of the assemblies 12 and 25 according to Fig. 13). Moving hook 23 of frame lifters 21 into a ready position (position of the adjusting devices 6 according to Fig. 7a, position of the frame lifters 21 according to Fig. 15) or

[0046] - “Attaching the upper horizontal leg to a glass pane” (the frame grippers 13 of the assembly 12 and 25 are brought close to the glass pane in order to attach the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 to the glass pane with the aid of the pressure devices 16), the adjusting devices 6 assume the position according to Fig. 7c,

[0047] be adjusted.

[0048] A shaft 30 extending the length of the retaining wall 2 is provided, on which a gear 31, meshing with a rack 32, is mounted for rotation at each adjustment device 6. The racks 32 are attached to the beam 4 in the area of ​​the adjustment devices 6. The movement of the adjustment devices 6 is synchronized by the shaft 30, the gears 31, and the racks 32, so that the beam 5 with the assemblies 12 is always aligned parallel to the retaining wall 2 and a glass pane leaning against it – even when the beam 5 is being moved.

[0049] The drives 10 and 10' are coupled to the slide 8 of the adjusting device 6, for example as described below with reference to Figures 7a, 7b, and 7c. The drive 10 (a pneumatic cylinder with a piston rod) is mounted on the slide 8. The piston rod of the drive 10 is connected to the support 5. When actuated, the drive 10 adjusts the slide 8 and, together with the slide 8, the downward-pointing pivot 9 and the support 5 relative (perpendicular to) a glass pane leaning against the support wall 2. The drive 10' (a pistonless pneumatic cylinder) is attached to the beam 4, for example via the guide 7. The drive 10 is connected to the drive 10', for example, via an intermediate plate. Thus, the drive 10 can be adjusted perpendicular to the support wall 2 by means of the drive 10'.

[0050] In the position shown in Fig. 7a, the piston rod of the drive 10 is retracted. The support 5 is located away from the support wall 2 and from a glass pane leaning against it (greater distance between the upper horizontal leg 19 and a glass pane). The drive 10 attached to the drive 10' is positioned in the area of ​​the end of the drive 10' furthest from the support wall 2.

[0051] To bring the support 5 and the assemblies 12 and 25 mounted on it, together with an upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 held by these components, closer to the support wall 2 and a glass pane leaning against it (smaller distance between the leg 19 and a glass pane), the drive 10 is actuated. The piston rod of the drive 10 is extended until the position shown in Fig. 7b is reached by moving the carriage 8 with its downward-pointing leg 9. The drive 10 coupled to the drive 10' remains in the area of ​​the end of the drive 10' furthest from the support wall 2, because the drive 10' has not yet been activated.

[0052] To bring the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 – the leg 19 being held by the frame grippers 13 mounted on the support 5 – closer to a glass pane leaning against the support wall 2, the drive 10' is activated. The drive 10' moves the drive 10, the carriage 8, the support 5, and the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18, held by the frame grippers 13 of the assemblies 12 and 25, towards the support wall 2 and a glass pane leaning against the support wall 2. This movement is carried out until the position shown in Fig. 7c is reached (small distance between the upper horizontal leg 19 and a glass pane). In this position, the drive 10 has been moved from the end of the drive 10 ' away from the support wall 2 by actuating the drive 10 ' towards the support wall 2.

[0053] In the position of the adjusting device 6 “Hanging” as shown in Fig.

[0054] 7a the piston rod of the drive 10 is retracted and the slide 8 of the drive 10 is moved away from the glass pane .

[0055] In the position of the adjusting device 6 “Transfer” as shown in Fig.

[0056] In figure 7b, the piston rod of the drive 10 is extended and the slide 8 is moved away from the glass pane by the drive 10. This position of the adjusting device 6 is also the position shown in figures 12 and 13.

[0057] In the “position” position (Fig. 7c) the piston rod of the drive 10 is extended and the slide 8 together with the drive 10 is moved by the drive 10 ' towards the glass pane .

[0058] Several adjustment devices 6 are provided distributed along the length of the beam 4 and the support 5 - for example, two or three.

[0059] Several fingers 11 (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 7) are provided on the lower side of the support 5, pointing towards the support wall 2. The fingers 11 serve as a guide (“positioning stop”) for an upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 to be attached, in order to correctly align the upper horizontal leg 19 relative to the upper edge of the glass pane.

[0060] Several assemblies 12 are provided on the carrier 5, each comprising a frame gripper 13 with a fixed jaw 14 and a pivotable clamping jaw 15 (see Figs. 5 and 6). Each assembly 12 includes a pressure device 16 for moving the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 towards a glass pane in its working position. With the aid of the pressure devices 16, the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 can be applied (pressed) against the glass pane. The clamping jaws 15 are pivotable from a ready position, in which they point away from the support wall 2 (Fig. 12), to an operating position, in which they bear against the fixed jaws 14 from below (Figs. 5, 6 and 13). In this position of the clamping jaws 15, the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 is held clampingly between the jaws 14 and the clamping jaws 15.For pivoting the clamping jaws 15, each assembly 12 has a rotary drive 20 which is coupled to the clamping jaw 15 of the assembly 12.

[0061] The fixed jaws 14 of the assemblies 12 are aligned vertically by adjusting the beam 4 and thus the support 5, such that an upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18, bearing against the jaws 14 from below with its outer side, is at the correct height for attaching the leg 19 to a glass pane that is leaning against the supporting wall in its working position. The upper horizontal leg 19 rests against fingers 11 from below.

[0062] The assemblies 12 can be adjusted perpendicular to the plane of the support wall 2 by moving the support 5 with the aid of the adjustment device 6. In this way, the assemblies 12, with an upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 held by them, can be brought close to a glass pane. The frame grippers 13 are aligned vertically by moving the beam 4 and thus the support 5, such that the outer side of the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 rests against fingers 11 and is at a distance from the upper edge of the glass pane that corresponds to the depth of the edge joint.

[0063] The device 1 further comprises frame lifters 21, adjustable in height relative to the beam 4 and the support 5, with essentially vertically aligned rods 22 which carry hooks 23 at their free ends. The frame lifters 12 can be adjusted up and down by moving the rods 22 in a vertical movement parallel to the plane of the retaining wall 2.

[0064] The pressure devices 16 of the assemblies 12, which are fixedly mounted on the carrier 5, each comprise a linear drive 17, for example a pneumatic cylinder, which serves to advance an upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18, which is slidably clamped between jaws 14 and clamping jaws 15, onto the glass pane in order to position the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 against the glass pane. The pressure devices 16 are mounted on the carrier 5 so as to be height-adjustable (Figs. 5 and 6). For this purpose, the linear drives 17 are attached to the carrier 5 via brackets 33 with actuators 34 (pneumatic cylinders).

[0065] The (piston) rods 24 of the linear drives 17 have pointed free ends so that they do not damage the adhesive compound (e.g. butyl rubber) applied to the spacer frame 18 when the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 is pressed onto the glass pane to position it.

[0066] The frame grippers 13 hold (clamp) the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 with a sliding fit. This allows the upper horizontal leg 19 to be pressed against a glass pane in a working position with the help of the pressure devices 16 when the frame grippers 13 are closed, as is done in the first step of attaching a spacer frame 18.

[0067] Since the frame lifters 21 are adjustable up and down, they can be lowered until their hooks 23 are positioned below an upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18. This also applies if the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18—especially in the case of longer spacer frames 18—sags downwards in an arc (see Fig. 9). By lifting the hooks 23 of the frame lifters 21, into which the upper leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 is engaged, the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 is not only straightened, but can also be moved upwards by moving the frame lifters 21 into contact with the fixed jaws 14 of assemblies 12.

[0068] The adjustability of the frame lifters 21 allows them to be lowered so far that the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 can be hooked into the hooks 23 without an operator (or operators) having to stand on a ladder or other climbing aid when spacer frames 18 are to be attached whose upper horizontal leg is not reachable without a climbing aid because it is positioned too high.

[0069] A component assembly 25 - the right-hand component assembly in the drawings - can be horizontally displaced on the beam 4 by means of a linear drive 26 (see Fig. 8).

[0070] Moving the assembly 25 allows the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18, clamped between the fixed jaw 14 of the assembly 25 (which is horizontally displaceable together with the displaceable assembly 25) and the clamping jaw 15 of the frame gripper 13, to be moved to a vertical stop. This allows the spacer frame 18 to be correctly aligned horizontally with a glass pane in its working position, so that the upper leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 is positioned against the glass pane with the desired horizontal orientation. When aligning the spacer frame 18 horizontally, only the frame gripper 13 of the displaceable assembly 25 is closed, while the frame grippers 13 of the other assemblies 12 are open. Thus, the movement of the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18, which hangs in the hook 23 of the frame lifter 21, is not hindered.

[0071] The described device 1 can be used to attach the upper horizontal leg 19 of a spacer frame 18 to a glass pane as follows:

[0072] A spacer frame 18 is positioned in front of the retaining wall 2 either manually or with the help of a feeder.

[0073] The spacer frame 18 can form an angle with the support wall 2, i.e., it can have a greater distance at the bottom - in the area of ​​its lower horizontal leg - from the support wall 2 than in the area of ​​its upper horizontal leg 19.

[0074] The frame lifters 21 are lowered until the hooks 23 are at a height that can be reached by an operator without the aid of a ladder (e.g., a ladder) (see Fig. 11). The hooks 23 are then positioned, for example, below the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18. This also applies to downward-sagging horizontal legs 19 of the spacer frame 18 (see Fig. 9). The upper horizontal leg 19 is then hooked into the hooks 23 of the frame lifters 21. The frame lifters 21, into which the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 has been hooked, are then raised. The spacer frame 18 is pulled upwards by the frame lifters 21.The operator can stand on the ground and guide the spacer frame 18 in its lower area to keep the spacer frame 18 at the bottom until the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 rests against fixed jaws 14 (these act as height stops) of assemblies 12 from below and is aligned straight.

[0075] When the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 rests against the jaws 14, the spacer frame 18 rests with its lower horizontal leg on support elements, which are designed, for example, like the fingers 11. After the transport of a glass pane, the support elements are positioned so that a spacer frame 18 resting on them is aligned vertically with the glass pane and has a distance from the lower edge of the glass pane that corresponds to the depth of the edge joint to be filled later with sealant.

[0076] Once this has occurred, the assembly 25, which is horizontally and parallel to the plane of the support wall 2, is actuated by closing its frame gripper 13 through pivoting the clamping jaw 15, so that the upper horizontal leg 19 is held on the assembly 25 between the jaw 14 and the clamping jaw 15. Then the assembly 25 with the spacer frame 18 is moved linearly (to the right in Fig. 4) until the spacer frame 18 reaches the vertical stop, which is formed, for example, by fingers 11 (Fig. 4).

[0077] 4) , is attached. During this activity, the frame grippers 13 of the other assemblies 12 are still open, so that horizontal movement of the spacer frame 18, whose upper horizontal leg 19 slides into the hook 23 of the frame lifters 21, is possible.

[0078] Once the spacer frame 18 is correctly aligned horizontally, the frame grippers 13 of the other assemblies 12 are closed (Figs. 12 and 13), with the adjusting devices 6 assuming the position shown in Fig. 7b. The upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 is then held in a defined position along its entire length between the fingers 11, against which it rests from below, and the frame grippers 13. Before the assemblies 12 and 25 are moved towards the glass pane, the frame lifters 21 are lowered until their hooks 23 are released from the upper horizontal leg 19 (Fig. 14, arrow 27). After lowering the frame lifters 23, the assemblies 12 and 25 with clamped spacer frames 18 are moved away from the beam 5 and thus from the support wall 2 (Fig. 14, arrow 28) by actuating the adjusting devices 6, so that the adjusting devices 6 assume the position shown in Fig. 7a.Then the frame lifters 21, in whose hooks 23 the upper horizontal leg 18 of the spacer frame 18 is no longer located, are moved upwards (arrow 29) into a ready position (Fig. 15).

[0079] Subsequently, the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 is moved towards the glass pane by actuating the adjustment devices 6.

[0080] To attach the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 to the glass pane, the linear drives 17 of the pressure devices 16 provided in the assemblies 12 and 25 are actuated, so that their piston rods 24 with their pointed ends press the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 against the glass pane.

[0081] Once this has happened, the assemblies 12 and 25 can release the upper horizontal leg 19 again by opening the frame grippers 13 by pivoting the clamping jaws 15 away from the jaws 14.

[0082] The two lateral – essentially vertical – legs and the lower horizontal leg of the spacer frame 18 are then pressed against the glass pane either by hand or with the aid of a positioning device. The lateral – essentially vertical – legs and the lower horizontal leg of the spacer frame are guided by fingers 11 so that they are correctly positioned against the glass pane and pressed down.

[0083] In summary, an embodiment of the invention can be described as follows:

[0084] To attach a spacer frame 18 to a substantially vertical glass pane during the manufacture of insulating glass, a spacer frame 18 in a substantially vertical position is provided. The upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 is lifted by frame lifters 21 into a position aligned with the upper edge of the glass pane and straightened. The upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 is held by frame grippers 13 and applied to the glass pane by pressure devices 16. After the upper horizontal leg 19 of the spacer frame 18 has been applied, the other legs of the spacer frame 18 are applied to the glass pane.

Claims

Claims:

1. Method for attaching a spacer frame ( 18 ) to a substantially vertical glass pane in the course of manufacturing insulating glass, in which the following process steps are carried out: Providing a spacer frame ( 18 ) in a substantially vertical position, Raising the upper horizontal leg ( 19) of the spacer frame ( 18 ) into a position aligned relative to the upper edge of the glass pane, Straightening the upper horizontal leg (19) of the spacer frame (18) into a straight shape before and / or during lifting the spacer frame (18), aligning one of the substantially vertical legs of the spacer frame (18) relative to the glass pane, while the spacer frame (18) is moved horizontally, Attaching the upper horizontal leg ( 19) of the spacer frame ( 18 ) to the glass pane and After attaching the upper horizontal leg ( 19), attach the two substantially vertical legs and the lower horizontal leg of the spacer frame ( 18 ) to the glass pane.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper horizontal leg ( 19 ) of the spacer frame ( 18 ) is inserted into frame lifters (21 ) having hooks (23) before lifting and that the frame lifters (21 ) are adjusted upwards parallel to the plane of the glass pane to lift the upper horizontal leg ( 19 ).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper horizontal leg (19) of the spacer frame (18) is inserted into downwardly adjusted frame lifters (21) and that the upper horizontal leg (19) of the spacer frame (18) is then lifted by the frame lifters (21) into the position aligned relative to the upper horizontal edge of the glass pane.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper horizontal leg (19) of the spacer frame (18) is straightened by hooks (23) of the frame lifters (21) applied to the upper horizontal leg (19) of the spacer frame (18) from the inside of the spacer frame (18).

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper horizontal leg (19) of the spacer frame (18) is held clampingly in frame grips (13) after lifting with a sliding fit, is brought close to the glass pane and finally pressed against the glass pane.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the upper horizontal leg (19) of the spacer frame (18) is raised until it rests from below against jaws (14) of frame grippers (13) aligned relative to the upper edge of the glass pane.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper horizontal leg (19) of the spacer frame (18) is held in frame grips (13) by clamping jaws (15) with sliding fit in contact with the jaws (14).

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a spacer frame ( 18 ) is provided after a glass pane has been provided for attaching the upper horizontal leg ( 19) of the spacer frame ( 18 ).

9. Device for attaching a spacer frame (18) to a glass pane, in particular a device for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8, with a substantially vertical support wall (2) as a holder for a glass pane leaning against it, characterized by frame lifters (21) which are adjustable up and down parallel to the plane of the support wall (2), assemblies (12 and 25) for gripping the upper horizontal leg (19) of the spacer frame (18) and for moving the upper horizontal leg (19) towards the glass pane, and a support (5) for the assemblies (12 and 25) which is adjustable parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the support wall (2).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the frame lifters (21) comprise rods (22) adjustable up and down and aligned parallel to the plane of the support wall (2) and hooks (23) provided at the lower ends of the rods (22).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the hooks (23) are oriented with their open sides pointing upwards.

12. Device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the support (5) is adjustably mounted perpendicular to the plane of the supporting wall (2) via adjusting devices (6) on a beam (4) adjustable parallel to the plane of the supporting wall (2).

13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that a fixed 22 is mounted on the support (5). Assemblies ( 12 ) and a longitudinally movable assembly (25) of the carrier (5) are provided.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the movable assembly (25) is adjustable along the carrier (5) by means of a linear drive (26) supported on the carrier (5).

15. Device according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the assemblies ( 12 and 25) comprise frame grippers ( 13) for holding the upper horizontal leg ( 19) of a spacer frame ( 18 ) and a pressing device ( 16) for applying the upper horizontal leg ( 19) to a glass pane.

16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the pressing devices ( 16 ) comprise a linear drive ( 17 ) , in particular a pneumatic cylinder, the piston rod (24 ) of which can be advanced perpendicular to the plane of the support wall (2 ) for attaching upper horizontal legs ( 19 ) and can be applied to upper horizontal legs ( 19 ).

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the free end of the piston rod (24) is tapered.

18. Device according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the frame grippers ( 13) of the assemblies ( 12 and 25) each have a fixed jaw ( 14 ) and a pivotable clamping jaw ( 15).

19. Device according to one of claims 9 to 18, characterized in that fingers (11) are provided on the carrier (5), the downwardly pointing surfaces of which are stop surfaces for the outside of an upper horizontal leg (19) to be attached to a 23 spacer frame ( 18 ) are .

20. Device according to one of claims 12 to 19, characterized in that the adjusting devices (6) each comprise a substantially horizontally oriented guide (7) attached to the beam (4), each comprise a slide (8) slidably mounted in the guide (7) on which the support (5) is mounted, and drives (10, 10') for moving the slide (8) in the guide (7).

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the guide ( 7 ) is attached to the underside of the beam ( 4 ).

22. Device according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the support ( 5 ) is attached to a leg ( 9 ) pointing downwards from the slide ( 8 ).

23. Device according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that two drives (10, 10') are provided for adjusting the carrier (5).

24. Device according to claim 23, characterized in that the support (5) and thus the assemblies (12 and 25) are adjustable with the aid of the drives (10, 10') into the positions "engaging upper horizontal legs (19) in hooks (23) of frame lifters (21)" as well as "transferring upper horizontal legs (19) of frame lifters (21) to frame grippers (13)" or "attaching upper horizontal legs (19) to a glass pane".

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