EP3209842B1 - Method for forming a closed frame-like spacer for an insulating-glass unit - Google Patents

Description

The starting point of the invention is a method for forming a closed frame-shaped spacer for an insulating glass pane by applying a pasty and subsequently solidifying strand, which is bounded by a bottom, a top and two side surfaces and a desired thickness between the bottom and top and a desired width between has the two side surfaces, on a glass sheet along the edge of the glass sheet in such a way that at a beginning of the strand whose thickness over a distance of a predetermined length has a ramp in which the thickness of the strand increases from zero to the desired thickness. At one end of the strand, its thickness, complementary to the rising ramp on the same distance, overlapping the ramp, decreases from the nominal thickness to zero, so that the surface of the ramp forms an interface between the beginning and the end of the strand. Such a method is from the DE 44 33 749 C2 known.

In the known method, a strand of initially pasty texture with a temperature above room temperature is extruded by means of a nozzle and deposited on the glass sheet such that the beginning and end of the strand not blunt, but on an inclined surface (ramp) to form a thermoplastic spacer which is formed by increasing the thickness of the strand as it exits the nozzle at the beginning of a predetermined length of zero to the desired thickness of the strand and complementary to the end of the strand at the same distance from the target thickness to zero is reduced , This can be achieved by means of a nozzle whose exit cross-section is variable and which, while being moved a predetermined distance from the edge of the glass sheet along the edge of the glass sheet, can be lifted off the glass sheet. Inevitably, in this way of working, there is a gap between the beginning and the end of the strand. However, this joint is placed in the assembly of the insulating glass under pressure because it is imperative and common to press insulating glass panes, on the one hand to achieve the desired target thickness of the insulating glass pane, and on the other hand, a solid and impermeable to water vapor diffusion connection between the spacer and the to ensure adjacent glass panels. In this pressing inevitably the two inclined surfaces are pressed against each other at the beginning and at the end of pasty strand and sealed together without further action, so that the frame-shaped spacer, the interior of the insulating glass, as desired, hermetically seals. By cooling, the initially pasty strand solidifies and forms the desired spacer.

In the finished insulating glass pane, the position of the joint between the beginning and end of the strand on the inner side of the insulating glass facing side surface of the strand is still recognizable as an obliquely extending over this side surface line. This is perceived by some as disturbing. The recognizable line on that side face of the strand which, after the assembly of the insulating glass panes, delimits its interior, marks the section of the edge of the boundary between the beginning and the end of the strand situated in this side face.

The present invention has for its object to provide a way how a spacer of the type mentioned can be made, in which the position of the joint between the beginning and end of the strand in the finished insulating glass is less easy to recognize than before.

This object is achieved by the method having the features specified in claim 1. Embodiments and developments of the method according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a pasty strand, which after the in the DE 44 33 749 C2 has been aftertreated by at least that side surface of the strand which, after assembly of the insulating glass pane, defines its interior, in a region which extends to both sides of the edge of the interface between the beginning and the end extends the strand is subjected to mechanical vibrations. Thereby, in the side surface of the strand, which limits the interior space after assembly of the insulating glass, the transition between the beginning and the end of the strand can be made uniform, so that the position of the interface between the beginning and the end of the strand in that side surface, which after the assembly of the insulating glass whose interior limited, in the finished insulating glass is no longer or not as clearly visible as in the prior art. It does not matter whether the interface between the beginning and the end of the strand on the side facing in the insulating glass side surface of the strand and at the top and at the bottom of the strand, which adhere in the insulating glass on the two glass panels, still could be seen, because these three sides are no longer visible after installation of the insulating glass in a window frame or door frame.

The inventive method can be carried out in a production line for insulating glass panes, after the pasty strand has been applied to a first glass sheet and before pressing to complete the insulating glass pane, a second glass sheet is pressed against the frame-shaped strand thus formed. In this phase of assembly of the Insulating glass pane, the strand is still freely accessible on three sides, namely on the one side surface which limits the interior of the insulating glass pane after the assembly, on the other side surface facing away from it and on the top of the applied to the first glass sheet strand, which later with the second Glass panel is connected.

In the production line for insulating glass panes, the first glass sheet with the frame-shaped strand adhering thereto can be moved out of the working area of the nozzle with which the strand has been extruded and applied to the glass sheet to a station in which a tool for post-processing the joint in the frame-shaped strand is provided. The time taken to post-treat the joint may be shorter than the time required for extruding and applying the strand to the glass sheet so that the cycle time of the production line for the production of the insulating glass sheet is not prolonged by the post-treatment.

The vibration acting on the side surface of the strand should be a mechanical vibration. Thus, the transition between the beginning and end of the strand can be made uniform in the relevant side surface of the strand.

The vibrations which act on the side surface of the strand in question in the area of the joint can be characterized by a linear reciprocating movement. For equalization of the transition between the beginning and end of the strand and vibrations are possible, which are associated with a circular motion. However, vibrations associated with a linear reciprocating motion have the advantage that they can be made in a direction in which a texture of the surface of the strand caused by the extrusion of the plastic strand is not blurred but retained. Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the vibrations take place parallel to the surface of the glass sheet, in the longitudinal direction of the strand. As the surface of the glass sheet is not understood here the narrow peripheral surface of the glass sheet, but the area enclosed by the spacer surface. Under the longitudinal direction the strand is understood to be the direction in which the strand is extruded; it runs parallel to the edge of the glass panel.

The mechanical vibrations can be transmitted in different ways to the later limiting the interior of the insulating glass side surface of the strand. In one embodiment of the invention, a vibrating body is used for this purpose, which is brought to this side face of the strand to the plant, in such a way that it not only the lying in this side face of the strand portion of the edge of the interface between the beginning and end of the strand piece far covered, but also covers a portion of the side surface, which is on both sides of the edge of the interface z. B. stripe-shaped extends. For this purpose, a surface of the oscillating body acting on this lateral surface of the strand may have the shape of a rectangle whose edge lengths are given by the height of the strand applied to the glass sheet and by the length of the ramp measured along the length of the strand, which determines the position of the boundary surface marked between the beginning and the end of the strand.

In another embodiment of the invention, the surface of the vibrating body, which is to act on the side surface of the strand, have the shape of a rhombus, which is long enough to almost completely cover the edge of the interface in the respective side surface of the strand. In this case, the vibrating body may be applied to the side surface of the strand such that the rhombus is substantially delimited by the top and bottom of the strand and by two lines parallel to the edge of the boundary and the edge of the interface is substantially in the rhombus , This embodiment of the invention has the advantage that the area of the side surface of the strand, which is acted upon by mechanical vibrations, can be minimized.

In the case of a vibrating body which acts with a rigid surface on the side surface of the strand, this surface of the vibrating body can be adapted to the predetermined contour of the side surface of the strand in the vicinity of the boundary between the beginning and end of the strand.

In a further embodiment of the invention can be acted on the side surface of the strand to equalize the transition between the beginning and end of the strand with an obliquely incident on the side surface of the strand pulsating air jet or with sound. The air jet can be heated so as not to cool the side surface of the strand or not too much. If the strand contains thermoplastic material, as the cooling progresses, the toughness of the material of the strand increases and complicates post-treatment of the joint.

If the strand contains a setting material, it must be ensured that the aftertreatment is carried out as long as the strand is still pasty.

The vibrating body can be brought flat to the plant on the side surface of the strand. In another embodiment of the invention, the vibrating body can act with bristles on the side surface of the strand. The bristles may be flexible, reciprocate in the post-treatment of the strand, and sweep the joint between the beginning and end of the strand, which reciprocating motion may be in the longitudinal direction of the strand. If a vibrating body with flexible bristles is used, then these can automatically adapt to a given contour of the side surface of the strand in the vicinity of the interface between the beginning and end of the strand; this is advantageous for the success of the post-treatment of the strand.

In another embodiment of the invention, a vibrating body may be used which is a sponge or carries a sponge. The sponge can make a reciprocating motion on the side surface of the strand in the vicinity of the interface between the beginning and the end of the strand and, if necessary, can automatically adapt to the predetermined contour of the lateral surface of the strand.

The vibrating body can be applied to the strand so that it does not touch the glass sheet at least during the swing. This can be ensured be that the vibrating body leaves no traces on the glass sheet, which could not be removed after assembly of the insulating glass pane.

In the vibrating body, the strand contacting surface may consist of a material or be coated with a material which does not or at best adheres so weakly to the paste-like strand that the vibrating body does not remove more than a negligible amount of the material of the pasty strand from the strand and / or record. This also applies to the case where the strand-contacting surface is formed by bristles or by a sponge. In this way, the conspicuity of the joint between the beginning and end of the strand can be greatly reduced. As materials to which the material of the pasty strand is not or only weakly liable, z. As fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, and polysiloxanes in question.

An adhesion of the material from which the strand is formed on the vibrating body can be kept particularly small not only by the selection of materials, but also in that the roughness of the strand contacting surface of the vibrating body is kept within predetermined limits. Thus, the surface of the vibrating body touching the strand can have a mean roughness Ra according to DIN EN ISO 4287: 2010-07 of z. B. 0.5 microns to 2 microns, in particular from 1 micron to 1.5 microns have. As a result, the contact area between the strand contacting surface of the vibrating body and the strand can be reduced and the non-stick effect - also in combination with the material selection mentioned above - improve.

In a further development of the method, a vibrating body which consists of a material or is coated with a material whose heat conductivity does not have more than 0.3 W / (m · K) can be used. This can be achieved that the aftertreatment of a thermoplastic strand in the region of its joint does not lead to such a strong local cooling of the respective side surface of the strand, which could complicate their homogenization.

In one embodiment of the invention, the vibrating body can rest without pressure on the surface of the strand in the after-treatment of the paste-like strand. The advantage of this approach is that the vibrating body leaves no impression on the relevant side surface of the pasty strand by the aftertreatment.

In another embodiment of the invention, the oscillating body can be applied with a pressure on the side surface of the pasty strand, which is so small that the oscillating body on the later limiting the interior of the insulating glass side surface leaves no dent, which would be visible to the naked eye.

The vibrating body may be a component of a gripper with two jaws, of which a first baking the vibrating body or a part of the vibrating body is or carries the vibrating body. The first baking with the vibrating body can be applied to that side surface of the paste-like strand, at which the dividing line between the beginning and end of the strand as a result of the aftertreatment no longer or not so clearly recognizable. The second jaw can be placed on the glass sheet and applied to the other side surface of the strand, which later faces outward in the insulating glass pane. The gripper may have a closed position, in which the two jaws face each other in parallel and have a distance which is equal to the desired width of the strand. If the opened gripper with the second jaw placed on the glass sheet and applied to the later outwardly facing side surface of the strand and then closed, then you can achieve particularly easy that the first jaw, which is to act on that side surface of the strand, which later points into the interior of the insulating glass pane, depressurized or virtually depressurized on this side surface. So that the vibrating first baking leaves no marks on the glass panel, the glass panel facing edge may be slightly, z. B. fractions of a millimeter, compared to the other, jump back on the glass sheet mounted second jaws. In this way, the glass sheet can be used as a reference for adjusting the position of the vibrating body on pasty strand.

Usually, the strand always has the same distance from the edge of the glass panel with different glass panels. This makes it possible to use the edge of the glass sheet as a reference for adjusting the position of the vibrating body on the strand and to orient in the case of the formation of the vibrating body on a gripper a default for the second baking at the location of the edge of the glass sheet.

In one embodiment of the invention, the gripper can have not only one pair of jaws, but two pair of jaws side by side, which are used synchronously and together. In this case, the two jaws, which are to act on that side surface of the strand, which faces later in the insulating glass pane inwardly, jointly carry a vibratory drive, which oscillates the one jaw relative to the other jaw, which is arranged next to it.

When working in the method according to the invention with a vibrating body, which acts with a non-compliant surface swinging on the side surface of the strand edges of the surface acting on the side surface of the strand surface of the vibrating body may be rounded. This is favorable for a smooth sliding of the oscillating body on the side surface of the strand.

The vibrating body may have an electromagnetic drive that causes it to vibrate. Other types of drives, eg. As a pneumatic drive, are also possible. An electromagnetic drive has the advantage compared to a pneumatic drive to be quieter and more precisely controllable. The vibrations may have an amplitude of z. B. 0.2 mm to 2 mm and can be generated with a frequency of 5 Hz to 20 Hz in order to achieve particularly good results. Other amplitudes and frequencies are also possible.

The invention is suitable both for the production of rectangular insulating glass panes and for the production of shaped panes. Formed discs are insulating glass letters whose outline deviates from the rectangular shape. At the Making molds can be done so that the point at which the beginning and end of the strand collide (the joint) lies in a straight line section of the strand. In this procedure, the post-processing of the joint can be carried out more easily than if it were located in a curved section of the spacer. If the point at which the beginning and end of the strand collide, in such a way at a corner of the glass sheet and thus at a corner of the strand, which was applied to the glass sheet, that the joint extends over the corner of the strand, then you can apply separately to the two outgoing from the corner sections of the strand in which the joint is located, with vibrations, for example, by the first one and then applied to the other portion of the strand with the oscillating body provided for this purpose.

Figur 1

zeigt eine Düse, welche zum Auftragen eines pastösen Strangs auf eine Glastafel geeignet ist, die

Figuren 2 - 5

zeigen die Düse in vier aufeinanderfolgenden Phasen des Auftragens eines pastösen Strangs auf eine Glastafel,

Figur 6

zeigt einen Teil der Glastafel mit einem aufgetragenen pastösen Strang in der Draufsicht,

Figur 7

zeigt einen Querschnitt durch einen Teil der Glastafel mit einer Seitenansicht des pastösen Strangs im Bereich der Stoßstelle zwischen Anfang und Ende des Strangs,

Figur 8

zeigt die Darstellung in Figur 7 ergänzt um den Umriss eines rechteckigen Schwingkörpers,

Figur 9

zeigt die Darstellung in Figur 7 ergänzt um den Umriss eines rautenförmigen Schwingkörpers,

Figur 10

zeigt einen Ausschnitt aus einer Fertigungslinie für Isolierglasscheiben in einer Schrägansicht mit einem Greifer mit Schwingantrieb,

Figur 11

zeigt einen Ausschnitt aus einer Fertigungslinie für Isolierglasscheiben wie in Figur 10, jedoch unter einem anderen Blickwinkel und mit dem Greifer in einer anderen Stellung an einer rechteckigen Glastafel,

Figur 12

zeigt den Ausschnitt aus der Fertigungslinie wie in Figur 11, jedoch mit dem Greifer in einer Position an einer dreieckigen Glastafel,

Figur 13

zeigt den Ausschnitt aus der Fertigungslinie wie in Figur 11, jedoch mit dem Greifer in einer Position an einer halbrunden Glastafel,

Figur 14

zeigt einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus Figur 10 mit dem Greifer in Offenstellung,

Figur 15

zeigt einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus Figur 10 mit dem Greifer in seiner Geschlossenstellung,

Figur 16

zeigt einen Vertikalschnitt durch die Vorrichtung in Figur 15 gemäß Schnittlinie 16-16, und

Figur 17

zeigt schematisch den Aufbau eines Schwingantriebs.

For further explanation of the invention serve the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1

shows a nozzle which is suitable for applying a pasty strand to a glass sheet, the

FIGS. 2 to 5

show the nozzle in four consecutive phases of applying a pasty strand to a glass sheet,

FIG. 6

shows a part of the glass sheet with a pasty strand applied in plan view,

FIG. 7

shows a cross section through a part of the glass sheet with a side view of the pasty strand in the region of the joint between the beginning and end of the strand,

FIG. 8

shows the illustration in FIG. 7 supplemented by the outline of a rectangular vibrating body,

FIG. 9

shows the illustration in FIG. 7 supplemented by the outline of a diamond-shaped oscillating body,

FIG. 10

shows a section of a production line for insulating glass panes in an oblique view with a gripper with oscillating drive,

FIG. 11

shows a section of a production line for insulating glass panes as in FIG. 10 but from a different angle and with the gripper in a different position on a rectangular glass sheet,

FIG. 12

shows the section from the production line as in FIG. 11 but with the gripper in a position on a triangular glass panel,

FIG. 13

shows the section from the production line as in FIG. 11 but with the gripper in a position on a semicircular glass sheet,

FIG. 14

shows an enlarged section FIG. 10 with the gripper in open position,

FIG. 15

shows an enlarged section FIG. 10 with the gripper in its closed position,

FIG. 16

shows a vertical section through the device in FIG. 15 according to section lines 16-16, and

FIG. 17

schematically shows the structure of a vibratory drive.

The FIGS. 1 to 6 show one from the DE 44 33 749 C2 known prior art.

The in the FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrated nozzle 1 for applying a pasty strand 2 on a surface 3 of a glass sheet 4 is mounted at the end of a shaft 5, which is rotatable about a rotation axis 6 which is perpendicular to the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4. The shaft 5 is hollow and opens into a passing through the nozzle 1 channel 7, which leads to an outlet opening 8 of the nozzle 1. The nozzle 1 has an end face 9 which extends obliquely in its working position to the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4 and directly delimits the outlet opening 8 extending perpendicularly to the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4. The outlet opening 8 has a substantially rectangular outline. In the middle of the outlet opening 8, the axis of rotation 6 of the shaft 5 runs.

The hollow shaft 5 serves to rotate the nozzle 1 about its axis of rotation 6 and for supplying the pasty mass to be applied to the glass sheet 4 to the nozzle 1. For closing the outlet opening 8, a slide 10 is provided which interchangeable between a parallel to the axis of rotation 6 wall 11 of the channel 7 and a removable counter-holder 12 is arranged interchangeable. Between the wall 11 and the counter-holder 12, the slider 10 is guided displaceably parallel to the axis of rotation 6. In order to move it, it is provided with a toothing 13 which meshes with a pinion 14, which is controlled by a mounted on the shaft 5 small electric motor 15 driven.

In order to apply a pasty strand to the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4, the nozzle 1 is first approximated in the direction of the axis of rotation 6 of the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4 until the nozzle 1 touches or almost touches the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4. In this case, the outlet opening 8 of the nozzle is initially closed by the slide 10. This state shows the FIG. 2 ,

The nozzle 1 is then moved along the edge of the glass sheet 4, wherein the distance of the nozzle 1 from the edge of the glass sheet 4 should remain as equal as possible. The nozzle 1 can thereby be moved along the edge of the glass sheet 4 so that the glass sheet 4 is moved either when the glass sheet 4 is stationary or the glass sheet 4 is moved while the nozzle 1 is stationary, or because both the nozzle 1 and the glass sheet 4 are matched to be moved. The movement of the nozzle 1 relative to the glass sheet 4 takes place in one of the outlet opening 8 of the nozzle 1 opposite direction.

In the starting phase of the movement over a distance of length L (see FIG. 3 ), the slider 10 is opened continuously until it reaches a predetermined position in which the emerging from the nozzle 1 strand 2 has its desired thickness D. Due to the continuous opening of the slider 10, the strand 2 in the starting phase on the track with the length L is getting steadily increasing thickness, so that the top of the strand 2 is formed there by an inclined surface 16, the shape of the first section of the strand 2 a ramp of length L lends.

The nozzle 1 is guided parallel to the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4 at the edge along the glass sheet 4 and sets a strand 2 of substantially constant cross-section and constant thickness D on the glass sheet 4, on which the strand 2 is liable. Finally, the nozzle 1 approaches the ramp 16 again, see FIG. 6 , It is moved on unchanged relative to the glass sheet 4 until it finally reaches the top 18 of the starting portion of the strand 2 with its lower edge 17. Because of the oblique course of the lower end surface 9 of the nozzle 1, whose angle may be slightly larger than the angle between the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4 and the surface of the ramp 16, there is no surface contact with the lower end surface 9 of the nozzle first with the ramp 16. In the further course of the movement of the nozzle 1 relative to the glass sheet 4 in the direction of arrow 19, the nozzle 1 is controlled so lifted from the glass sheet 4 that its lower edge 17 moves along the top of the ramp 16. Simultaneously and synchronously, the slider 10 is continuously advanced in the direction of its closed position; it reaches its closed position when the lower edge 17 of the nozzle 1 reaches the upper end 20 of the ramp 16. This condition is in FIG. 5 shown.

In this way, a wedge-shaped end portion 21 of the strand 2 is formed, which is complementary to the ramp 16 and is located on the ramp 16, so that the strand 2 forms a closed frame.

The wedge-shaped end section 21 can be applied to the ramp 16 in such a way that the strand 2 is slightly elevated there compared to the desired thickness D of the strand 2. This makes it easier, when later pressing the insulating glass a particularly reliable and tight connection between the ramp 16 and the to obtain wedge-shaped end portion 21. This elevation can be achieved simply by not starting the closing movement of the slider 10 on reaching the ramp 16 until after the lower edge 17 of the nozzle 1 reaches the tip 18 of the starting portion of the strand 2 (the beginning of the ramp 16) by a small amount Length has passed, which is small compared to the length L of the ramp 16.

The edge 22 of the interface between the beginning and the end of the strand 2, d. H. between the ramp 16 and the wedge-shaped end portion 21 of the strand 2, is initially clearly visible. This visibility is alleviated or eliminated by use of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a part of the glass sheet 4 with a strand 2 applied thereto in a plan view. The strand 2 lying on the glass sheet 4 has a first side surface 23, which faces the interior of the insulating glass pane in the later insulating glass pane, and has a second side surface 24 facing outward. In the FIG. 6 the viewer facing side of the strand 2 is referred to here as its top 25, which is on the glass sheet 4 side of the strand 2 is referred to as its bottom 26. The edge 22 of the interface between the beginning and the end of the strand 2 is in FIG. 6 to be seen as a perpendicular to the two side surfaces 23 and 24 extending line. The arrow 19 indicates the longitudinal direction of the strand 2, in which the nozzle 1 has moved relative to the glass sheet 4.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section through a portion of the glass sheet 4 with a view of the first side surface 23 of the strand 2, on which the obliquely to the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4 extending edge 22 of the interface between the ramp 16 and the wedge-shaped end portion 21 of the strand 2 can be seen , In order to reduce or eliminate the recognizability of this edge 22, this edge 22 and an area of the first side surface 23 of the strand adjacent to the edge 22 on both sides are acted upon by mechanical vibrations, e.g. B. in that a vibrating body 27 is applied to the edge 22 overlapping the side surface 23 and excited to vibrate, in particular to linear vibrations in the direction of the arrows 39. Der Oscillating body 27 can lie flat against the side surface 23 and have a rectangular outline, as in FIG FIG. 8 but it can also have a diamond-shaped outline, as in FIG. 9 shown. The latter has the advantage that the contact surface between the oscillating body 27 and the side surface 23 of the strand 2 can be minimized. In both cases it can be provided that the vibrating body 27 maintains a small distance from the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4, so that its vibrations can leave no traces on the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4.

FIG. 10 shows a section of a production line for insulating glass with a frame 28, which carries a horizontal conveyor 29 with a series of synchronously driven conveyor rollers 30 and a support wall 31, on which standing on the conveyor rollers 30 glass plates 4 can be supported. In the in FIG. 10 Example shown can be seen a glass panel 4, on which a frame-shaped spacer is mounted, which-as described above - is formed from a paste-like strand 2. This may be a strand 2 made of a thermoplastic material, for. B. based on a polyisobutylene. On the frame 28 is a parallel to the support wall 31 from bottom to top extending rail 32 is attached to which a gripper 33 movable up and down, in its distance from the support wall 31 is changeable and rotatably mounted about a perpendicular to the support wall 31 extending axis. The rail 32 may be fixedly mounted on the frame 28, but it may also be mounted parallel to the horizontal conveyor 29 slidably mounted on a horizontal cross member 34 of the frame 28.

The gripper 33 has at least one pair of jaws 35 and 36 whose mutually facing surfaces may be parallel to each other and whose mutual distance between an open position and a closed position is variable. In the in FIG. 10 shown closed position, the jaws 35 and 36 abut against the two side surfaces 23 and 24 of the strand 2 without pressure or with minimal pressure. In the open position, the jaws 35 and 36 release the strand 2. At least the jaws 35, which faces the first side surface 23 of the strand 2, is connected to a vibratory drive 27 which parallelizes the jaws 35 in linear oscillations Can offset longitudinal direction 19 of the strand 2. The jaw 35 thus fulfills the function of a vibrating body, which serves to bring the edge 22 of the interface between the beginning and end of the strand 2 by smoothing the side surface 23 in this completely or partially to disappear. The opposing jaws 36 may also be connected to the oscillating drive 37. But he does not have to be connected to a vibrating drive, but can alternatively remain at rest while the jaw 35 oscillates.

The glass sheet 4 and the gripper 33 are positioned relative to each other so that the jaws 35 and 36 of the gripper 33 on the side surfaces 23 and 24 of the strand 2 cover that point where the beginning and end of the strand 2 meet. For a rectangular glass panel 4, as in FIG. 10 shown, this point is expediently always at the bottom horizontal edge of the glass sheet, but it could also, as in FIG. 11 represented lying on a rising edge of the glass sheet, or, as in the Figures 12 and 13 represented lying at a glass panel 4 for the production of a shape of disc with a deviating from the rectangular shape outline somewhere on a lying above the lower edge of the glass sheet 4 position of the edge of the glass sheet 4. The described type of attachment of the gripper 33 on the frame 22 with the ability to move it up and down, back and forth and horizontally back and forth and to rotate it about an axis perpendicular to the support wall 31 axis, allows the joint between the beginning and End of the strand 2 to place somewhere and treat nachzubehandeln according to the invention.

FIG. 14 shows enlarged a section of in FIG. 10 Device shown with open gripper 33. The jaws 35 and 36 are in the open position parallel to each other and have a greater distance than in the closed position. The jaws 35 and 36 are by advancing the gripper 33 against the glass sheet 4 in a position in which they only have to be approximated each other. The lower jaw 36 touches the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4, the upper jaw 35 but not. At the top 25 of the strand 2, a counter-holder 38 is applied, which is advanced between the two jaws 35 and 36 from the gripper body 47 and thereby brought to rest against the top 25 of the strand 2; he can during the Supplying the strand 2 with mechanical vibrations to contribute to the stabilization of the strand 2 supply.

By reducing the distance between the two jaws 35 and 36 from each other, these come to rest on the side surfaces 23 and 24 of the strand 2 and cover there the edge 22 of the lying between the beginning and end of the strand 2 interface.

The closed position of the gripper 33 is in the FIGS. 15 and 16 shown. FIG. 16 clearly shows that the lower jaw 36 can touch the glass sheet 4, while the upper jaw 35, which is connected to the oscillating drive 37, a small distance from the surface 3 of the glass sheet 4 complies. The counter-holder 38 is located between the two jaws 35 and 36 and touches the top 25 of the strand 2. After turning on the oscillating drive 37 acts at least the upper jaw 35, the first side surface 23 of the strand 2 with its vibrations. The lower jaw 36 may be coupled to the upper jaw 35 so that both jaws 35 and 36 are vibrated by the oscillating drive 37, so that both side surfaces 23 and 24 of the strand in an edge 22 of the interface between the beginning and end of Strand 2 surrounding area are smoothed by the reciprocating jaws 35 and 36. However, only the smoothing on the first side surface 23 is decisive, because only this can be seen in the later-installed insulating glass pane. After applying the strand 2 with vibrations of the gripper 33 is opened again and withdrawn from the glass sheet 4, so that the glass sheet 4 with the adhering thereto, formed from the strand 2 frame-shaped spacer on the horizontal conveyor 29 can be carried away without the towering Section of the strand 2 with the gripper 33 collided.

FIG. 17 shows schematically an example of how the oscillating drive 37 can be constructed. In the embodiment of FIG. 17 it consists of a C-shaped magnetic core 40, which carries electrical windings 41, which can be connected by a switch 42 with an AC power source. The C-shaped magnetic core 40 is attached to a mass body 43 by springs 44, which may be helical springs, is coupled to a plate 45, on whose side facing the mass body 43, an anchor plate 46 is mounted, which faces the ends of the C-shaped magnetic core 40. When the windings 41 are de-energized, the springs 44 hold the armature plate 46 to a predetermined distance from the magnetic core 40. By closing the switch 42, the windings 41 are energized and the magnetic field generated by them attracts the armature plate 46 to the magnetic core 40. The closing and opening of the switch 42 can be done with a preselected frequency which determines the oscillation frequency. If the plate 45 is connected to the jaw 35 and the mass body 43 is arranged in contrast stationary, then the oscillating drive 37 thus formed the jaws 35 and possibly also the coupled jaws 36 with the preselected frequency linear reciprocate. Such an oscillating drive 37 can be in a gripper 33 in the FIGS. 10 to 16 be integrated manner shown when the gripper 33 has two adjacent jaw pairs 48 and 49, of which a pair of jaws 49 is attached to the body of the gripper 33 that it can not swing and is rigidly connected to the mass body 43, whereas from the other Jaw pair 48 of at least the jaws 35, which is applied to the side surface 23 of the strand 2, is connected to the plate 45, which in turn is connected to the anchor plate 46, which can be excited by repeatedly closing the switch 42 to vibrate. The FIGS. 11 to 15 show such a gripper 33 with two juxtaposed pairs of jaws 48 and 49th <B> LIST OF REFERENCES </ b> 1 jet 28 frame 2 pasty strand 29 Horizontal conveyor 3 Surface of 4 30 conveyor rollers 4 glass panel 31 retaining wall 5 hollow shaft 32 rail 6 axis of rotation 33 grab 7 channel 34 traverse 8th outlet opening 35 to bake 9 end face 36 to bake 10 pusher 37 oscillating drive 11 wall 38 backstop 12 backstop 39 arrows 13 gearing 40 magnetic core 14 pinion 41 windings 15 electric motor 42 switch 16 Sloping surface, ramp 43 mass body 17 Lower edge of 1 44 feathers 18 Top of the starting section of 2 45 plate 46 anchor plate 19 Arrow, shows the movement of 47 gripper body Nozzle in the longitudinal direction of 48 jaw pair Strand 49 jaw pair 20 Upper end of 16 21 wedge-shaped end section of 2 B Target width of the strand 2 22 Edge of the interface between 16 and 21 D Target thickness of the strand 2 L Length of the ramp 16 23 first side surface of 2 24 second side surface of 2 25 top 26 bottom 27 oscillating body

Claims (17)

1. A method for forming a closed frame-like spacer for an insulating glass pane by
   applying a pasty and subsequently solidifying extrudate (2), which is delimited by an underside (26), an upper side (25) and two side surfaces (23, 24) and has a target thickness (D) between the underside (26) and the upper side (25) and a target width (B) between the two side surfaces (23, 24),
   and
   by applying said extrudate to a glass plate (4) along the edge of the glass plate (4) in such a way that, at a beginning of the extrudate (2), the thickness thereof, over a distance of length (L), has a ramp (16) over which the thickness of the extrudate (2) increases from zero to the target thickness (D) and, at an end of the extrudate (2), the thickness thereof decreases from the target thickness (D) to zero in a manner complementary to the upwardly sloping ramp (16) over the same distance (L), overlapping the ramp (16), and therefore the surface of the ramp (16) forms a boundary between the beginning and the end of the extrudate (2),
   characterised by subsequently treating the pasty extrudate (2) by subjecting with mechanical vibrations at least that side surface (23) of the extrudate (2) which, following assembly of the insulating glass pane, delimits the interior space thereof, in a region which extends to both sides of the periphery (22) of the boundary surface located between the beginning and the end of the extrudate (2).
2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the vibrations are characterised by a linear movement back and forth.
3. The method according to claim 2, characterised in that the vibrations occur parallel to the surface (3) of the glass plate (4), in the longitudinal direction (19) of the extrudate (2).
4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vibrations are transferred to the side surface (23) of the extrudate (2) later delimiting the interior of the insulating glass pane in that a vibrating body (27) is brought into contact with the extrudate (2) so that it covers the edge (22) of the boundary surface lying in this side surface (23) of the extrudate (2) between the beginning and the end of the extrudate (2), in the region extending on both sides of the edge (22) of the boundary surface.
5. The method according to claim 4, characterised in that the vibrating body (27) is brought into a planar contact with the side surface (23) of the extrudate (2).
6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the edge of the glass plate (4) is used as a reference for the setting of the position of the vibrating body (27) on the pasty extrudate (2).
7. The method according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the applied vibrating body (27) has a surface that acts on the side surface (23) of the extrudate (2) and that has rounded edges.
8. The method according to any of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the vibrating body (27) is applied against the side surface (23) of the extrudate (2) without pressure.
9. The method according to any of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the vibrating body (27) is placed against the side surface (23) of the extrudate (2) at a pressure that is so low that the vibrating body (27) does not leave behind any indents on the side surface (23) later delimiting the interior of the insulating-glass unit that would be visible to the naked eye.
10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the applied vibrating body (27) is part of a gripper (33) having at least one pair of jaws (35, 36), and in that one jaw (35) of each jaw pair is part of the vibrating body (27) or carries the vibrating body (27), wherein the two jaws (35, 36) of the at least one jaw pair face each other in the closed position of the gripper (33), in parallel to one another at a predefined distance equal to the target width (B) of the extrudate (2), and wherein the gripper (33), before it is closed, is oriented such that the jaw (36) opposite the vibrating body (27) in the closed position is in contact with that side surface (24) of the extrudate (2) that points outwardly after the assembly of the insulating glass pane.
11. The method according to any of claims 4 to 10, characterised in that the applied vibrating body (27) has a surface to be placed against the extrudate (2), which surface is adapted to the predefined contour of the side surface (23) of the extrudate (2) in the vicinity of the boundary surface between the beginning and end of the extrudate (2).
12. The method according to any of claims 4 to 11, characterised in that the vibrating body (27) is placed against the extrudate (2) so that it does not touch the glass plate (4) at least during the vibration.
13. The method according to any of claims 4 to 12, characterised in that the surface of the vibrating body (27) touching the extrudate (2) is made of a material or is coated with a material that does not adhere to the pasty extrudate (2) or that at most adheres thereto so poorly that the vibrating body (27) at most removes and/or absorbs a negligible amount of the material of the pasty extrudate (2).
14. The method according to any of claims 4 to 13, characterised in that the vibrating body (27) is made of or is coated by a material having a thermal conductivity of no more than 0.3 watt/(m•K).
15. The method according to any of claims 4 to 14, characterised in that the surface of the vibrating body (27) touching the extrudate (2) has a mean roughness value Ra according to DIN EN ISO 4287:2010-07 of from 0.5 µm to 2 µm, in particular of from 1 µm to 1.5 µm.
16. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vibrations are generated with an amplitude of from 0.2 mm to 2 mm, in particular from 0.4 mm to 1 mm.
17. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vibrations are generated with a frequency of from 5 Hz to 20 Hz.

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