Sealing and de-stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in insulating glass production is the sticky nature of fresh sealing compound, which complicates the transportation and de-stacking of sealed insulating glass panes, as it clogs transport means and requires complex conveying solutions.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves replacing conventional conveying means with holding elements and support systems, such as suction devices and gripper assemblies, allowing the insulating glass blanks to be held and sealed with a one-nozzle sealing machine that travels around the periphery, and using a removal robot to de-stack the glass, while maintaining the upper edge accessible for sealing, and employing an intermediate storage system for sorted glass panes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional conveying means are used to transport insulating glass panes during sealing, then the glass panes can be moved through the sealing station, but the fresh sealing compound clogs the transport means due to its sticky nature
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful interaction between the sticky sealing compound and the conveying means is eliminated by extracting the glass panes from the conveying means before sealing. The panes are transferred to holding elements that do not contact the sealing compound, thereby preventing clogging while maintaining transportation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Holding elements act as an intermediary between the conveying means and the glass panes during sealing. These holding elements temporarily support the panes without contacting the sealing compound, mediating the transfer process and preventing the sticky compound from clogging the original conveying means.
2Productivity
If the insulating glass blank is moved during sealing of horizontal sections, then the entire periphery can be sealed, but the lower edge becomes inaccessible to the sealing nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the glass blank past the sealing nozzle, the approach is inverted: the sealing nozzle is moved around the stationary glass blank. This allows the lower edge to remain accessible while still achieving complete periphery sealing, reversing the traditional motion paradigm.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system employs dynamic movement of the sealing nozzle along the entire periphery of the glass blank, adapting its position to seal all sections including the lower edge. This dynamic positioning ensures complete sealing coverage without requiring the glass blank to be moved in a way that would block access.
3Ease of operation
If complex conveying solutions are designed to handle sticky sealing compound, then transportation can proceed, but the device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The problem of handling sticky sealing compound is solved by extracting the glass panes from the conveying means before the sealing process. This eliminates the need for complex conveying solutions designed to resist clogging, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining transportation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of investing in complex, durable conveying systems designed to withstand sticky compound, the invention uses simple, temporary holding elements that are easily replaced or adjusted. These simple holding elements achieve the transportation goal without the complexity and cost of specialized conveying systems.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the insulating glass blank is held by conveying means during sealing, then the blank remains stable, but the lower edge is not accessible for the sealing nozzle to pass underneath
Solution Approach 1:
Holding elements serve as intermediaries that temporarily support the glass blank during sealing without blocking the sealing nozzle's path. These elements provide the necessary stability while allowing the nozzle to access the lower edge, mediating between the conflicting requirements of stability and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the glass blank to achieve sealing access, the solution inverts the approach by moving the sealing nozzle around the stationary blank. This allows holding elements to maintain stability while the nozzle dynamically accesses all edges including the lower edge.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method and device configuration improves the sealing process by preventing clogging and facilitating efficient de-stacking, reducing repositioning work, and allowing for the handling of different glass dimensions without time-consuming adjustments, thereby enhancing the overall production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the insulating glass blank is held, for example, by a suction device engaging its side opposite the sealing assembly
Data Source
AI summary
When being sealed, insulating glass blanks (5) are held in a sealing station (2) gripped at the base by grippers (17) of a gripper arrangement (16) and/or by suction heads (15) and rest at the top against a roller beam (7) fitted with rollers (8). As the insulating glass blank (5) is sealed, only the nozzle (11) of a sealing assembly (10) moves along the outer edge of the insulating glass blank (5), which is stationary during the sealing process. When the lower edge of an insulating glass blank (5) is sealed, grippers (17) engaging the lower edge are released and move away downwards. Sealed insulating glass is removed from the sealing station (2) by a removal robot (24) onto the side opposite the sealing assembly (10), moved to a temporary store and placed therein on A-bearing supports (29) and fan frames (30) sorted according to production lots.