FR3086686A1 - PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING INSULATING GLAZING HAVING AT LEAST THREE GLASS SHEETS - Google Patents

Abstract

To manufacture an insulating glazing unit having at least three sheets of glass 2, 3, 4, a sub-assembly is made comprising it a spacer frame 10 and all the glass sheets 2, 3, except an external one 4, by assembling them so allowing gas circulation between the cavities 5, 6 between the glass sheets, the last cavity 6 being open. In a sealed enclosure 100, a vacuum is produced in the cavities 5, 6 of the sub-assembly 1a via the open cavity 6 and by virtue of the circulation of gas between the cavities 5, 6. Then the cavities 5 are filled, 6 of insulating gas through the open cavity 6 thanks to the action of the prevailing vacuum therein and to the circulation of gas between the cavities. Finally, the open cavity 6 is closed with the second external glass sheet 4.

Description

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INSULATING GLAZING HAVING AT LEAST THREE GLASS SHEETS

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing insulating glazing comprising at least three sheets of glass assembled together by means of a spacer frame so as to face each other and to be separated from each other so as to form each time a respective cavity between two adjacent glass sheets.

It is known, for example from WO2017 / 115061 A1, to produce an insulating glazing with three sheets of glass by first assembling a spacer frame around the edge of a first sheet of glass - the internal glass sheet of the insulating glazing - which is placed in a peripheral groove formed on the inside of the spacer frame, a lining being placed in the groove interposed between the groove and the edge of this sheet of glass. Then, two other sheets of glass are placed and secured on either side of the spacer frame using sealing cords. Finally, an outer sealing barrier is applied over the entire outer periphery of the spacer frame between these two glass sheets, so as to maintain the glass sheets together and on the spacer frame. The spacer frame has two tubular parts containing a desiccant material in order to dehydrate the two cavities formed between the first glass sheet and each the other two glass sheets. The spacer frame is conventionally manufactured either by successive folding of a straight section made of ductile material such as aluminum, or by angular assembly at their ends of four straight sections, so as to obtain a rectangular frame.

Furthermore, the two cavities formed between the first glass sheet and each of the other two glass sheets are filled with an insulating gas replacing the air. The filling of each cavity is conventionally done through a respective orifice produced by drilling through the opposite walls of the corresponding tubular part of the spacer frame. The filling operation is carried out before applying the external sealing barrier.

The filling of insulating gas is generally carried out with a nozzle or a syringe inserted into the orifice and passing through the tubular part so as to open into the cavity concerned. A second similar orifice, made elsewhere in the tubular part, allows the evacuation of air from the cavity as it is filled with the insulating gas. After filling a cavity with the insulating gas, the nozzle or syringe is removed and the orifices are closed by sealing plugs. Alternatively, the orifice is provided with a shutter forming a gas filling valve.

26FR-180928-Patent application

On the interior side of the spacer frame, these orifices remain visible to the end user despite the fact that these plugs or shutters are substantially flat and of the same color as the spacer frame, which has the disadvantage of prejudicing the final aesthetics of the glazing. Another drawback is related to the fact that the gas filling is done manually, which limits the efficiency of the manufacturing process.

Another solution for filling the cavities of the insulating glazing with three glass sheets is taught by WO 2011/095732 A2. This document proposes to assemble the spacer frame around the internal glass sheet having previously placed a butyl bead in the groove of the spacer frame receiving the edge of this glass sheet. A respective butyl bead is also placed on the lateral faces of the spacer frame for the subsequent fixing of the two external glass sheets. Then, the two outer glass sheets are placed against the lateral faces of the spacer frame so that each glass sheet is inclined at an angle between 0 ° and 10 ° relative to the adjacent glass sheet, one of 'it being preferably positioned vertically. This makes it possible to close the triple glazing more or less on at least one of its four sides, while forming the two cavities between the three sheets of glass which remain ajar. The insulating gas is then injected through the gap after possibly creating a vacuum in the cavities. After injection of the gas, a brief pressing of the glass sheets makes it possible to close the cavities to prevent the insulating gas from coming out and the triple glazing is conveyed to a work station which exerts pressure on the two external glass sheets to seal the triple glazing.

This solution avoids the need for filling holes in the spacer frame. However, it has the disadvantage of being complex and delicate to implement. Indeed, it uses a very large and bulky conveyor belt, which requires significantly modifying the triple glazing assembly lines, and on which the implementation of the relative positioning of the external glass sheets and the spacer frame provided with the internal glass sheet is delicate. Or it uses a complex conveyor belt with three parallel strips to support each of the external glass sheets and the spacer frame provided with the internal glass sheet, respectively, the three strips being laterally offset between them to achieve the desired angular positioning of the glass sheets between them, then summary pressing after gas injection. In addition, maintaining the vertical position of the spacer frame provided with the internal glass sheet on the central belt of the conveyor is difficult to implement.

WO 2011/095732 A2 also teaches a variant in which the three glass sheets are positioned vertically, one side of each of the external glass sheets being deformed by traction so as to be separated from the internal glass sheet so as to open the two cavities formed between the glass sheets and thus provide a passage for their filling with gas. WO 2016/170079 A1 discloses a teaching similar to the variant of the previous document, but using a double press.

This solution consisting in deforming the bottom of the glass sheets also avoids having to use filling holes in the spacer frame. However, it is only applicable in the case of glass sheets capable of being deformed in this way. It is complex to implement in particular for carrying out a simultaneous pressing of the two external glass sheets against the spacer frame twice in succession: first along the upper and lateral regions of the external glass sheets and then injecting the gas into the cavities after spacing on the bottom side of the outer glass sheets, then again at least on the bottom side of the outer glass sheets to seal them against the spacer frame. This solution also complicates the maintenance in position of the spacer frame and of the external glass sheets during this operation.

The aim of the present invention is to propose a technology for filling the cavities with insulating gas which at least partially remedies the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above.

To this end, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an insulating glazing comprising two external glass sheets and at least one internal glass sheet assembled together by means of a spacer frame so as to face and be separated from each other to each time form a respective cavity between two adjacent glass sheets, the method comprising the following successive steps:

a) provide a subset comprising:

a first only of the external glass sheets, the at least one internal glass sheet, and the spacer frame, which are assembled so as to form the cavities allowing gas circulation each time between two adjacent cavities, one cavities being open on the outside on the side of the spacer frame intended to receive the second outer glass sheet, the spacer frame being assembled around the or each inner glass sheet whose edge is received in a respective peripheral groove of the spacer frame , and the periphery of a main face of the first external glass sheet being secured in a sealed manner to a first lateral face of the spacer frame which is situated on the opposite side of a second lateral face of the spacer frame provided for integrating the second external glass sheet.

b) in an enclosure closed in a substantially leaktight manner and containing the second external glass sheet and the sub-assembly with open cavity, proceed to fill the cavities of the sub-assembly with insulating gas and to close its open cavity, applying the following successive sub-steps:

bl) create a vacuum in the enclosure so as to create a vacuum in the open cavity of the sub-assembly, as well as in each other cavity of the sub-assembly through the open cavity by virtue of the gas circulation permitted between the adjacent cavities , b2) inject insulating gas into the enclosure so as to fill at least the open cavity of the sub-assembly, as well as each other cavity of the sub-assembly through the open cavity thanks to the gas circulation allowed between the adjacent cavities and under the action of the vacuum previously produced in each other cavity in step b1) thanks to the gas circulation allowed between the adjacent cavities, and b3) securing of the periphery of a main face of the second sheet of glass external to the second lateral face of the spacer frame so as to close the second cavity filled with insulating gas.

The method of the invention does not require the drilling of holes in the spacer frame, dedicated to filling the cavities of the insulating glazing with insulating gas and / or to evacuating the air which they contain. In addition, it is simpler to implement than the methods described by WO 2011/095732 A2 and WO 2016/170079 AL II can in particular be implemented on a conventional assembly line for triple glazing by confining itself to modifying the station. press, and in particular on a robotic manufacturing line as described by WO 2017/115062 A1 and WO 2017/115063 AL

Furthermore, the method of the invention also makes it possible, if necessary, to take advantage of the gas circulation allowed between the cavities of the insulating glazing already taught in the prior art to allow a pressure equalization in the cavities in order to improve the life of the insulating glass in the face of increases in gas pressure internal to the insulating glass by distributing its pressure variations between the two cavities. In fact, these pressure variations between the two cavities could otherwise essentially affect only one of the cavities, for example in the event of deformation under the action of the wind of the external glass sheet of the glazing which is exposed outside a building. Such teaching is disclosed by WO 2017/115061 A1 by proposing that the lining interposed between the groove of the spacer frame and the internal glass sheet allows balancing by gas circulation between the two cavities of the insulating glazing. This is also the case of WO 2016/170079 A1 which teaches placing a plurality of such linings in the groove with intermediate spaces to allow an exchange of gas between the two cavities. This is also the case of WO 2018/050357 A1 which describes a similar teaching.

According to preferred embodiments, the invention comprises one or more of the following characteristics:

during the execution of steps b1) and b2), the second external glass sheet is placed against the subassembly so that only part of the periphery of a main face of the second external glass sheet is applied against a corresponding part of the second lateral face of the spacer frame, thus leaving the corresponding cavity ajar on the outside;

step a) comprises supplying the sub-assembly with the spacer frame assembled around at least one internal glass sheet with continuous interposition of a lining between the edge of the internal glass sheet and at least the bottom of the groove around the entire periphery of the internal glass sheet, the gas circulation between the cavities adjacent to the internal glass sheet taking place between the lining and the edge of the internal glass sheet;

step a) comprises supplying the sub-assembly with the spacer frame assembled around at least one internal glass sheet with the interposition of a filling or a sealant between the edge of the internal glass sheet and at least the bottom of the groove around the periphery of the internal glass sheet, the lining or the sealant being interrupted on at least one longitudinal section of the groove to define a space between the edge of the internal glass sheet and the groove allowing passage free gas between the cavities adjacent to the internal glass sheet;

step a) comprises supplying the sub-assembly with the spacer frame assembled around at least one internal glass sheet with the interposition of a filling or a sealant between the edge of the internal glass sheet and at least the bottom of the groove around the entire periphery of the internal glass sheet, the periphery of the internal glass sheet having a cutout which extends at least partially outside the filling or the putty so as to allow free passage gas between the cavities adjacent to the inner glass sheet.

in step a) is used at least one internal glass sheet having at least one through hole allowing a free passage of gas between the cavities adjacent to the internal glass sheet.

In the context of the invention, the term "glass sheet" means any type of transparent substrate adapted to its function in insulating glazing. It can be a sheet of mineral glass, in particular an oxide glass which can be a silicate, borate, sulfate, phosphate, or the like. Alternatively, it may be an organic glass sheet, for example polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of example and with reference to the attached drawing.

Figure 1 schematically shows a triple insulating glazing seen in perspective.

Figure 2 schematically shows a local section in perspective through the edge of the insulating glazing of Figure 1 according to arrows II-II.

Figure 3 is a representation similar to Figure 2, except to be an enlarged and more detailed right view of the section.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a spacer used to produce the spacer frame of the insulating glazing of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the method for manufacturing the glazing of FIG. 1.

Figure 6 illustrates, in side view, the positioning of the insulating glazing of Figure 1 partially assembled, as well as the second external glass sheet in a sealed enclosure for filling the cavities of the insulating glazing with insulating gas.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates, in front view, the conveyor for bringing the partially assembled insulating glazing and the second external glass sheet into the sealed enclosure of FIG. 6 and for conveying them out of the enclosure after mutual joining.

FIG. 8 illustrates, in side view, a first variant of relative positioning of the insulating glazing of FIG. 1 partially assembled and of the second external glass sheet in the sealed enclosure in order to fill the cavities of the insulating glazing with gas. insulating.

FIG. 9 illustrates, in side view, a second variant of relative positioning of the insulating glazing of FIG. 1 partially assembled and of the second external glass sheet in the sealed enclosure in order to fill the cavities of the insulating glazing with gas. insulating.

Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of a spacer of the spacer frame of the insulating glazing of Figure 1, the groove for receiving the internal glass sheet is provided with a segmented lining.

Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but according to another embodiment in which the internal glass sheet has at least one gas passage hole communicating the two cavities of the insulating glazing.

FIG. 12 schematically represents a local section in perspective through the edge of the insulating glazing of FIG. 1 according to the arrows XI-XI: this section illustrates yet another embodiment in which the internal glass sheet has at least one cutout an edge or at a corner to define a free passage for gas communication between the two cavities of the insulating glazing.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, we will now describe the structure of an embodiment of insulating glazing 1 before describing its manufacture according to an embodiment of the manufacturing process of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the insulating glazing 1 comprises a spacer frame 10 and three sheets of glass designated together by the reference V. The three sheets of glass are referenced 2, 3, 4 in the other figures.

Referring to Figure 2, the spacer frame 10 includes a peripheral groove 11 on the inner face of the spacer frame 10, that is to say the face of the spacer frame 10 which faces the inside of the insulating glazing 1.

The peripheral groove 11 is formed over the entire inner periphery of the spacer frame 10. The edge of the glass sheet 2 is received all around its periphery in the peripheral groove 11 of the spacer frame 10. The glass sheets 3, 4 are called sheets of external glass because these are the two glass sheets which are on the outside of the insulating glazing 1. The glass sheet 2 is called the internal glass sheet because it is located inside the insulating glazing 1, or in other words still, it is located between the sheets of external glass 3, 4.

The spacer frame 10 is arranged between the glass sheets 3, 4 so as to form a first cavity 5 between the glass sheets 2, 3 and a second cavity 6 between the glass sheets 2, 4.

The spacer frame 10 is preferably rigid. It is preferably produced by assembling four spacers assembled angularly so as to each define a respective side of the spacer frame 10: cf. Figure 1 where the four spacers are referenced 20 to 23.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of the spacers, referenced 20, used for the production of the spacer frame 10, the other spacers 21 to 23 being identical or analogous. The spacer 20 includes a profile, it being understood that a profile is understood here to be a piece of straight volume, that is to say generated by straight lines. In other words, in this embodiment, the spacer 20 is a straight rigid spacer.

Each end of the profile of each of the four spacers 20 to 23 is bevelled so that each spacer is able to be assembled angularly with another of the spacers. Any bevel angle of the ends of the profiles can be envisaged, in particular a bevel angle of 45 ° corresponding to a miter cut assembly. The spacers 20 to 23 are assembled together generally by welding, the type of welding being chosen in consideration of the material of the spacers. In the case of spacers made of polymeric material, it is usual to use ultrasonic welding.

The spacer 20 includes a groove 11a. The groove 11a defines the groove 11 for the corresponding side of the spacer frame 10.

The spacer 20 comprises two opposite lateral faces 24, 25 intended to be secured respectively to in a peripheral region of a main face of the glass sheets 3, 4. The groove 11a is disposed between the two lateral faces 24, 25 and distance from them. The two lateral faces 24, 25 and the direction of longitudinal extension of the groove 11a are substantially parallel to one another.

The groove 11a preferably has a flat bottom and two opposite walls. The two opposite walls can be perpendicular to the bottom or can be inclined towards each other so that the groove 11a widens from its bottom - as illustrated in FIG. 3 - or on the contrary towards its bottom.

The spacer 20 preferably comprises two tubular parts 12, 13. The tubular part 12, respectively 13, is arranged between the peripheral groove 11 and the side face of the spacer frame 10 against which the glass sheet 3, 4 respectively is secured. The two tubular parts 12, 13 contain a desiccant material, referenced 70 in FIG. 3. They each have one or more through openings 14 for placing the desiccant material 70 contained in each tubular part 12, 13 in communication with the cavity 5, 6 corresponding. As a variant, the spacer frame 10 may comprise a tubular part containing desiccant material which is common to the two cavities 5, 6. The tubular parts 12, 13 can be closed in their end regions by plugs which are not visible to enclose the material desiccant 70 in the tubular parts 12, 13.

The desiccant material 70 can be any material capable of ensuring dehydration of the gas layer present in the cavities 5, 6 of the insulating glazing 1. It can in particular be chosen from molecular sieve, silica gel, CaCb, Na ₂ SO ₄ , activated carbon, zeolites, and / or a mixture thereof. Preferably, the desiccant material is molecular sieve or silica gel. The absorption capacity of these desiccants is more than 20% of their weight. The use of a desiccant material in fluid form, in particular in powder form or in granular form, allows the housing of each tubular part 12, 13 to be filled by gravity flow of the desiccant material into the housing formed by the tubular parts 12 , 13.

The profile of the spacers can be made of metal and / or of polymeric material. Examples of suitable metallic materials for the spacer profile are aluminum and stainless steel. Examples of suitable polymer materials for the spacer profile are polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, polybutadiene, polyesters, polyurethanes, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylates , polyamides, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), styreneacrylonitrile copolymer (SAN). Any combination or mixture of these materials is also possible, for example the profile of the spacer may be based on polypropylene comprising a frame constituted by a strip of stainless steel. When it is based on polymer material, the profile of the spacer is advantageously reinforced with fibers, in particular glass or carbon fibers.

If it is made of polymer, the profile of the spacers can be made by extrusion. The profile obtained after extrusion is then cut to the desired length and with the desired bevel.

The profile of each spacer may include a thermal insulating coating on its surface intended to be directed towards the outside of the insulating glazing. It can be, in particular, a multilayer coating comprising at least one polymer layer, as well as a metal layer or a ceramic layer. The thickness of the or each polymer layer is then preferably between 5 μm and 80 μm, while the thickness of the metal layers and / or ceramic layers is between 10 nm and 70 μm. This insulating coating makes it possible to reduce the transfer of heat through the spacer profile to the cavities of the insulating glazing.

As this is a rigid spacer, it is preferable that a lining 50 is arranged in the groove 11a so as to be interposed between the edge of the glass sheet 2 and at least the bottom of the groove 11a and preferably also over at least part of the height of the opposite walls of the groove 11a.

The gasket 50 serves to fix the glass sheet 2 in the peripheral groove 11 of the spacer frame, while making it possible to compensate for possible variations in thermal expansion of the glass sheet 2. Unconstrained fixing of the glass sheet 2 in the peripheral groove 11 can thus be obtained. The reduction of the stresses applied to the glass sheet 2 also makes it possible to reduce the thickness and the weight of the glass sheet 2, compared with those used in insulating glazing where the intermediate glass sheet is fixed on the periphery of the spacer instead of being received in a groove. The installation of a lining 50 in the groove 11a can also make it possible to adapt the spacer to different possible thicknesses of the glass sheet 2. It is thus possible to use the same model of spacer for manufacturing glazing insulators having glass sheets of different thicknesses, without having to produce spacers with a range of different groove widths, which is advantageous in terms of production costs.

The lining 50 can also play the role of a mechanical and acoustic damper, in particular during the insertion of the edges of the glass sheet 2 into the grooves 11a of the spacers to form the spacer frame 10 around the glass sheet 2 .

The lining 50 can be supplied continuously along the length of the groove 11a for each spacer 20 to 23. Thus, after assembly of the spacers 20 to 23 in the form of the spacer frame 10, the linings 50 of the spacers 20 to 23 are contiguous at their ends so as to form a continuous lining for the whole of the peripheral groove 11 of the spacer frame 10.

The lining 50 is advantageously provided to allow balancing by circulation of gas between the cavities 5, 6 of the insulating glazing 1 - cf. double arrow G in FIG. 3 - and therefore an equalization of the pressures in the two cavities. The gasket 50 being in this case continuously interposed over the entire length of the peripheral groove 11, the gas can be circulated for example by forcing the passage of gas between the peripheral edge of the glass sheet 2 and the gasket 50 - in particular at the upper edge of the glass sheet 2 when the glazing 1 is installed vertically - under the effect of a pressure differential in the cavities 5, 6. As already mentioned, this gas exchange is desirable to improve the life of the insulating glass in the face of increases in internal gas pressure in the insulating glass by distributing the variations in internal gas pressure between the two cavities which could otherwise essentially affect only one of the cavities, for example in the event of deformation under the action of wind or heat from the external glass sheet of the glazing which is exposed outside a building. This gas exchange also allows for long-term pressure equalization such as temperature variations between day and night or between summer and winter.

The lining 50 is preferably based on flexible polymer material. It can be an elastomer, in particular made of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM).

The lining 50 can be obtained in one piece with the profile of the spacer by coextrusion. Alternatively, when the spacer profile is made of polymer material, the assembly comprising the spacer profile and the lining 50 positioned in the groove 11a can be obtained in one piece by injection molding of two polymer materials.

The lining 50 can also be made of a polymer from one of the following families of thermoplastic polymers: TP A, TPC, TPE, TPS, TPU or TPV. It can advantageously be a TPU, and more particularly TPU-ARES, TPU-ARET or TPU-AREE. It can also be an aliphatic TPU. For these thermoplastic polymers, the production and positioning of the lining 50 in the groove 11a can be carried out as described in WO2018 / 050357.

The spacer frame 10 comprises two opposite lateral faces defined by the set of opposite lateral faces 24, 25 of the four spacers 20 to 23. The glass sheets 3 and 4 are each secured in sealing manner to a respective one of the two lateral faces. opposite the spacer frame 10. This joining can be conventionally carried out using a peripheral seal, referenced 81 and 82 in Figure 3, which has adhesive properties. It can be a bead of mastic generally based on polyisobutylene, or butyl, which is particularly effective in terms of sealing against water vapor and gases.

An outer sealing barrier 60 is applied to the outer periphery of the spacer frame 10 between the glass sheets 2, 3 which protrude beyond the spacer frame 10. The outer sealing barrier 60 serves to hold the glass sheets 2, 3 between them and on the spacer frame 10. The outer sealing barrier 60 can be formed, in particular, from a resin chosen from polysulphides, polyurethanes, silicones, hot-melt butyls, or hotmelt butyls, and their combinations or mixtures. These sealants have good adhesion to the glass sheets and mechanical properties enabling them to maintain the glass sheets 3, 4 on the spacer frame 10.

The cavities 5, 6 of the insulating glass contain an insulating gas other than air. The insulating gas can for example be argon (Ar), krypton (Kr) or xenon (Xe). It is advantageous for the strip of insulating gas in each cavity 5, 6 of the insulating glazing 1 to comprise at least 85% of a gas having a thermal conductivity lower than that of air. More generally, suitable gases are preferably colorless, non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-flammable and insensitive to exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Referring to the flowchart in Figure 5, the insulating glass 1 is manufactured as follows.

In a step 201, a sub-assembly 1a of the insulating glazing 1 is formed. For this, the four spacers 20 to 23 are assembled around the glass sheet 2 so as to form the spacer frame 10 containing the glass sheet 2. In this operation, the peripheral groove 11 of the spacer frame 10 is formed by juxtaposition of the grooves 11a of the four spacers 20 to 23 and the peripheral edge of the glass sheet 2 is inserted therein. Prior to assembly, each of the spacers 20 to 23 is provided with its lining 50 so as to form, after assembly, the lining continues over the entire peripheral groove 11 of the spacer frame 10 which is arranged in interposition between the edge peripheral of the glass sheet 2 and the peripheral groove 11. At this stage, the cavities 5, 6 are defined by the internal glass sheet 2 and the inner periphery of the spacer frame 10, but they remain open to the outside because the absence of the external glass sheets 3, 4.

One of the outer glass sheets 3, 4 is then secured to the relevant side face of the spacer frame 10, for example the glass sheet 3. For this, the peripheral sealing gasket 81 of butyl or the like is deposited on the side face. concerned with the spacer frame 10. Then the glass sheet 3 is pressed against this lateral face of the spacer frame 10 in their final relative position. The glass sheet 3 is thus secured in a substantially leaktight manner on the spacer frame 10 and the corresponding cavity 5 is closed. At this stage, it may be a summary pressing in which case a final pressing is carried out subsequently during the joining of the second external glass sheet 4. As a variant, it may be a pressing from this stage final.

The peripheral sealing gasket 82 of butyl or the like is also deposited on the opposite side face of the spacer frame 10 with a view to securing the glass sheet 4.

At the end of these operations, the sub-assembly 1a of the insulating glazing 1 is obtained which lacks the second external glass sheet 4, as well as the external sealing barrier 60. Furthermore, the closed cavity 5 and a fortiori the open cavity 6 do not yet contain an insulating gas other than air.

All of the above manufacturing operations can be carried out on a robotic manufacturing line such as that described in WO 2017/115062 A1 and WO 2017/11506 A1.

In a step 202, the second external glass sheet 4 and the sub-assembly 1a are introduced into an enclosure 100 which is then closed in a substantially sealed manner. This situation is illustrated by FIG. 6. As illustrated, the sub-assembly 1a and the second external glass sheet 4 are positioned inside the enclosure 100 at a distance from each other, without mutual contact, so that the cavity 6 is open. It will be understood that the second external glass sheet and the sub-assembly 1a can be brought into the enclosure 100 successively, in particular the glass sheet 4 can be brought there during the production of the sub-assembly 1a.

Then in a step 203, the vacuum is produced inside the enclosure 100 closed by means of a vacuum pump not shown, for example by means of one or more nozzles 102.

Therefore, a vacuum is created in the open cavity 6 of the sub-assembly 1a. A vacuum is also created in the closed cavity 5 through the open cavity 6 due to the gas circulation allowed between the cavities 5 and 6 by the gasket 50 as mentioned above.

In view of the fact that the circulation of gas from the closed cavity 5 to the open cavity 6 is limited and may possibly assume a pressure differential between the two cavities to force passage through the lining 50, it is preferable to provide a control loop for controlling the pumping speed of the air out of the enclosure 100 as a function of the deflection of the internal glass sheet 2. In fact, the latter tends to bulge under the effect of the pressure differential in the cavities 5, 6 linked to the limited gas circulation between the two cavities 5, 6. The control loop then advantageously regulates the pumping speed so as to preserve the integrity of the glass sheet 2. The deflection of the sheet glass 2 can be measured by any suitable device such as a laser measuring device.

After the desired vacuum level is reached in the cavities 5, 6, the pumping of air is stopped from the enclosure 100. The achievement of the desired vacuum level can be controlled by measuring the vacuum level reached in the enclosure 100, possibly followed by a predetermined time delay before proceeding to the next step in order to allow the vacuum in the cavity 5 to reach equilibrium.

Then in a step 204, the enclosure 100 being always closed, the insulating gas other than air - such as Argon or Krypton - is injected into the enclosure 100 to fill the cavities 5 , 6.

The closed cavity 5 is filled with the insulating gas through the open cavity 6 under the effect of the vacuum previously produced in the cavity 5 which has the effect of sucking in the cavity 5 the insulating gas from the open cavity 6 of the made of gas circulation that allows the gasket 50 between the cavities 5 and 6. The gas injection can be carried out by the same or nozzles 102 as to achieve the vacuum or by other (s). Again, it is preferable to provide a control loop to control the speed of injection of the insulating gas into the enclosure 100 as a function of the deflection of the internal glass sheet 2 so as to preserve its integrity.

The desired filling level with insulating gas in the cavities 5, 6 can be controlled by measuring the pressure level reached in the enclosure 100, possibly followed by a predetermined time delay before proceeding to the next step in order to allow the pressure in the cavity 5 to reach equilibrium.

After the desired filling level of the cavities 5, 6 with insulating gas is reached, the injection of insulating gas is stopped in the enclosure 100.

Then in a step 205, the cavity 6 is closed by pressing the second external glass sheet 4 against the corresponding side face of the spacer frame 10 previously provided with the peripheral sealing gasket 82 in butyl or the like. This pressing step is preferably carried out in the enclosure 100 while it is still still kept closed. It is preferably a final pressing, that is to say which definitively secures the glass sheet 4 sealingly against the lateral face of the spacer frame 10, and where appropriate also the glass sheet 3 against the corresponding side face of the spacer frame 10 in the case where the latter had only been subject to rough pressing during the formation of the sub-assembly 1a. As a variant, the pressing carried out in the enclosure 100 is a summary pressing in which case a final pressing is carried out subsequently outside the enclosure 100 by another press, this additional operation then being included in step 206 below. .

In step 206 which follows, the enclosure 100 is opened and the subassembly completed with the glass sheet 4 is brought out of the enclosure 100 to a station for application of the external sealing barrier 60.

The introduction of the sub-assembly 1a and the second external glass sheet 4 into the enclosure 100 in step 202, as well as the transport of the sub-assembly 1a completed by the glass sheet 4 outside the enclosure 100 in step 206 can be achieved by any suitable means, for example by a roller conveyor.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate such a roller conveyor which comprises a succession of rollers 110, each having a small diameter 111 and a large diameter 112 for supporting, the first, the external glass sheet 3 of the subset 1a and, the second, its spacer frame 10 through the lower spacer 20. The width of the large diameter portion 112 is less than the width of the spacer frame 10 to allow the pressing of the glass sheet 4 against it. The roller conveyor 110 can advantageously be provided for transporting spacer frames of different widths so as to be able to process a range of insulating glazing units in the chamber 100: in this case, the width of the large diameter portion 112 is chosen to be less than that of the spacer frame of the range with the smallest width. The sub-assembly 1a is preferably transported by the roller conveyor 110 in a substantially vertical position, but with a slight inclination a relative to the vertical - which is preferably between 4 and 10 ° - to be in stable support with the sheet. of external glass 3 against lateral support elements not shown in FIG. 7, but symbolized by the arrows 104, 105 in FIG. 6. The lateral support elements 104, 105 can be rotary rollers or else bearings or other surfaces appropriate sliding. The axis 113 of the rollers 110 is therefore inclined relative to the horizontal at the angle a. The rollers 110 - or at least some of them - are rotated to move the sub-assembly 1a in and out of the enclosure 100.

The roller conveyor has a first section 114 outside the enclosure 100 on which the sub-assembly is received 1a after its assembly in accordance with step 201 and prior to its introduction into the enclosure 100. A second section 115 of the roller conveyor 110 extends inside the enclosure 100. A third section 116 of the roller conveyor 110 extends outside of the enclosure 100 on the side opposite to that of the first section 114 and serves to take out the sub-assembly completed with the second external glass sheet 4 of the enclosure 100 and then be brought to the station for applying the external sealing barrier 60. The three sections 114, 115, 116 of the conveyor roller 110 are arranged in the extension of each other. The enclosure 100 includes two doors 101a, 101b - which may possibly form a single one - to allow the introduction of the subassembly 1a and the second external glass sheet 4 into the enclosure 100 - cf. step 202 - and conversely the evacuation of the subassembly completed with the glass sheet 4 from the enclosure 100. As a variant, the third section 116 and the door 101b can be omitted if both the introduction into the enclosure 100 and the evacuation from the enclosure 100 are carried out by the door 101a and the first section 114 of the roller conveyor 110.

The roller conveyor 110 can advantageously be used to introduce both the second external glass sheet 4 and the sub-assembly 1a into the enclosure 100. It is preferable that the second external glass sheet 4 is brought into the enclosure 100 by the roller conveyor 110 prior to the sub-assembly 1a, for example while the latter is being assembled in step 201. The second external glass sheet 4 can be transported on the small diameter 111 of the rollers 110 from the first section 114 to the second section 115 inside the enclosure 100. A pressing device 103 can then take hold of the glass sheet 4 for example by suction and suction effect, and move it away from section 115 roller conveyor 110 to make it available to receive the sub-assembly. To allow the pressing device 103 to grip the glass sheet 4 in this way, it can be provided that the section 115 of the roller conveyor 110 can pivot along a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis 113 of the rollers 110 so as to raise the edge bottom of the glass sheet 4 to allow it to pass beyond the connection surface between the small diameter 111 and the large diameter 112. Alternatively, it may be provided that the rollers 110 of the section 115 of the conveyor has a second part with small diameter - not shown - similar to the part with small diameter III, but arranged on the opposite side of the part with large diameter 112. In this case, the glass sheet 4 is received on this second part with small diameter of the rollers 110 of section 115. And a translating device can be provided to translate section 115 of the roller conveyor 110 towards the lateral support elements 104, 105 and into opposite section in order to selectively position the small diameter part 111 or the second small diameter part of the rollers 110 in an appropriate manner with respect to the lateral support elements 104, 105 mounted fixed depending on whether it is a question of supporting the glass sheet 3 or glass sheet 4 against the lateral support elements 104, 105.

After its introduction into the enclosure 100, the sub-assembly remains supported by the roller conveyor 110 and the lateral support elements 104, 105, in particular during the execution of the pressing of step 205. In the enclosure 100, the second external glass sheet 4 is preferably positioned and held by the pressing device 103 opposite the corresponding side face of the spacer frame 10 while being substantially parallel and aligned thereto: cf. Figure 6. Then in step 205, the pressing device 103 presses the glass sheet 4 against the side face of the spacer frame 10 in their final relative position of the insulating glazing 1 by simple translation: cf. arrow P. To ensure, during the pressing operation of step 205, the placing in relative position of the second external glass sheet 4 and of the subassembly 1a in the direction of movement of the roller conveyor 110, one or more position sensors, for example laser, are provided in the enclosure 100 to cause the blocking of the rotation of the rollers 110 when the glass sheet 4, respectively the sub-assembly la, have reached the desired level on the section 115 of the conveyor during their introduction into the enclosure 100.

FIG. 8 illustrates a first variant of relative positioning of the subassembly 1a and of the second external glass sheet 4 inside the enclosure 100 which is used at least during step 204 of injecting insulating gas . As illustrated, the second external glass sheet 4 is positioned opposite the spacer frame 10, but with its upper periphery pressing against the upper part of the spacer frame 10, in other words against the spacer 22 and extending from there towards the bottom with an angle β relative to the corresponding side face of the spacer frame 10 so that the cavity 6 remains open on the lower side. The angle β is greater than 0 ° and preferably less than or equal to 10 °. The glass sheet 4 is supported in this position by its lower edge which is supported on a support 120. The injection of insulating gas into the cavity 6 is carried out from one or more nozzles 102 positioned in the lower part of the enclosure 101 and directed towards the opening between the lower edge of the spacer frame 10 and the lower edge of the glass sheet 4. This positioning advantageously makes it possible to fill the cavity 6, and therefore also the cavity 5, with insulating gas, without the need to completely fill the enclosure 100, and therefore makes it possible to shorten the cycle time. After filling the cavities 5, 6 with the insulating gas, the pressing device 103 presses the glass sheet 4 against the lateral face of the spacer frame 10 to close the cavity 6, similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 6.

This positioning of the glass sheet 4 obliquely against the spacer frame 10 can be obtained by releasing the glass sheet 4 by the pressing device 103 after having gripped it on section 114 of the roller conveyor 110 and moved away from it. this and after the sub-assembly has been placed in position in the enclosure 100 by the section 115 of the roller conveyor 110. Due to the loosening, the lower edge of the glass sheet 4 lands on the support 120 and the glass sheet 4 rocks so that its upper periphery bears against the upper part of the spacer frame 10.

This first variant is similar to the teaching of WO 2011/095732 A2, except that the oblique positioning of the glass sheet against the spacer frame for the purpose of injecting insulating gas is only carried out for a single sheet of external glass, which simplifies its implementation.

FIG. 9 illustrates a second variant of relative positioning of the subassembly 1a and of the second external glass sheet 4 inside the enclosure 100 which is applied at least during step 204 of injecting insulating gas. After the pressing device 103 has grasped the second external glass sheet 4 on the roller conveyor 110 and the sub-assembly 1a has been placed in position in the enclosure 100 by the section 115 of the roller conveyor 110, the pressing device 103 presses at least briefly the second external glass sheet 4 against the corresponding lateral face of the spacer frame 10 in their final relative positioning, with the exception of the lower part of the glass sheet 4. Prior to pressing, the pressing device 103 folds the lower part of the glass sheet 4 outwards, that is to say away from the spacer frame 10, for example by means of one or more suction cups 103a. There therefore remains a free space between the lower edge of the glass sheet 2 and the lower part of the spacer frame 10, thus leaving the cavity 6 open in its lower part. The vacuum, then the injection of insulating gas by means of the nozzle (s) 102 is produced by this free space. After filling the cavities 5, 6 with the insulating gas, the suction cup 103a releases the traction on the lower part of the glass sheet 2 which then comes to rest against the lower part of the spacer frame 10, and therefore close the cavity 6. A final pressing of the glass sheet 4 against the spacer frame 10 is then executed by the pressing device 103 or else by another pressing device outside the enclosure 100. This second variant, applicable in the case of a external glass sheet tolerating a deformation of the lower edge, enables the cavities 5, 6 to be filled even more quickly because the cavity 6 is almost closed compared to the case of the first variant of FIG. 8.

This second variant is similar to the teaching of WO 2016/170079 A1, except that the application of the external glass sheet against the spacer frame with spacing of its lower edge is only carried out for a single glass sheet external, which simplifies its implementation.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the spacer 20 of the spacer frame 10 of the insulating glazing 1. The groove 11a for receiving the internal glass sheet 2 is provided with a segmented lining 50. In this example, the lining 50 is subdivided into four successive sections 50-1, 50-2, 50-3, 50-4 spaced apart. In this way, they define between them, in the direction of extension of the groove 11a, sections of groove 11a free of lining defining each time a free passage of gas between the cavities 5 and 6. These free passages of gas allow to create a vacuum, then filling with insulating gas in the closed cavity 5 through the open cavity 6 in steps 203 and 204 much faster than in the previous embodiment. Of course, the number of such free passages can be different and this arrangement can be applied to one, several or all the sides of the spacer frame 10.

According to another embodiment illustrated in Figure 11, it is provided for the same purpose that the internal glass sheet 2 has one or more through holes 2b putting in free gas communication the cavities 5 and 6 of the insulating glazing. For this, they are arranged at least partially outside of the lining 50. These through holes 2b are preferably arranged towards an edge or a corner of the internal glass sheet 2 so as to be hardly visible.

According to yet another embodiment illustrated by FIG. 12, it is provided for the same purpose that the internal glass sheet 2 has at least one cutout 2a at an edge or at a corner extending outside the lining 50 to define a free passage for gas communication between the two cavities 5, 6 of the insulating glazing 1. In the example illustrated, the cut 2a consists of a cut at an angle to the corner of the internal glass sheet 2.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 10 to 12, it may, as the case may be, use a control loop or not to control the pumping speed of the air out of the enclosure 100 as a function of the deflection of the sheet of internal glass 2, then to control the injection speed of the insulating gas into the enclosure 100 as a function of the deflection of the internal glass sheet 2, in particular having regard to the extent of the deflection at which the internal glass sheet 2 is subject to the importance of the free passage of gas between the cavities 5, 6 and the speed of pumping air, then injecting insulating gas into the enclosure 100.

The ways of allowing the circulation of gas between the cavities 5, 6 according to the embodiments of FIGS. 10 to 12 also allow the implementation of the manufacturing process of the invention in cases where the lining 50 is replaced by a bonding sealed from the edge of the internal glass sheet 2 in the groove 11 (in which case it is the bonding which is interrupted on at least one section if it is chosen for the embodiment of FIG. 10).

Of course, the different ways of allowing the circulation of gas between the cavities 5, 6 previously described can be combined instead of being implemented alone.

In all of the embodiments, the spacers 20 to 24, and therefore the spacer frame 10, can advantageously be devoid of holes dedicated to filling the cavities 5, 6 with insulating gas.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples and to the embodiment described and shown, but it is susceptible of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art. For example, the spacer frame 10 can be produced by successive folding of a straight section of ductile material such as aluminum. According to another variant, the spacer frame 10 can be made of flexible material such as foam.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to insulating glazing units having more than three sheets of glass, for example four or more. In this case, the spacer frame 10, respectively the spacers 20 to 23, can comprise as many grooves 11, respectively 11a, arranged between the lateral faces 24, 25 as there are sheets of internal glass with which the insulating glazing 1 is provided. The grooves 11, respectively 11a, are offset from each other in the transverse direction of the spacer frame and each receive the edge of a respective internal glass sheet. In this case, the spacer frame 10, respectively the spacer 20, preferably each time comprises a tubular part of type 12, 13 - intended to contain desiccant material 70 between two adjacent glass sheets with an opening 14 placing the desiccant material in communication with the cavity formed between the two corresponding glass sheets, and a groove 11, respectively 11a, is defined between each pair 5 of adjacent tubular parts. In this case, the method of manufacturing insulating glass can be similar to that described above for the manufacture of triple glazing, with the difference that the assembly of the spacer frame is no longer done around a single sheet of internal glass. , but from several adjacent internal glass sheets. The filling of the various cavities with insulating gas can advantageously be carried out by the same manufacturing process as described above, by allowing gas circulation between each pair of adjacent cavities of the insulating glazing in one or more of the ways previously described.

Claims (6)

1. Method for manufacturing insulating glazing (1) comprising two external glass sheets (3, 4) and at least one internal glass sheet (2) assembled together by means of a spacer frame (10) so to face each other and to be separated from each other to each time form a respective cavity (5, 6) between two adjacent glass sheets, the method comprising the following successive steps: a) provide a subset (la) comprising: - a first (3) only of the external glass sheets, At least one internal glass sheet (2), and the spacer frame (10), which are assembled so as to form the cavities (5, 6) allowing gas circulation (G) each time between two adjacent cavities, Tune (6) of the cavities being open to the outside on the side of the spacer frame (10) intended to receive the second outer glass sheet (4), the spacer frame being assembled around the or each inner glass sheet (2) the edge of which is received in a respective peripheral groove (11) of the spacer frame, and the periphery of a main face of the first external glass sheet being tightly secured to a first lateral face of the spacer frame which is situated on the side opposite a second side face of the spacer frame provided for securing the second outer glass sheet. b) in an enclosure (100) closed in a substantially leaktight manner and containing the second external glass sheet and the sub-assembly with open cavity, proceed to fill the cavities of the sub-assembly with insulating gas and to close its cavity open, by applying the following successive substeps: bl) create a vacuum in the enclosure so as to create a vacuum in the open cavity (6) of the subassembly (la), as well as in each other cavity (5) of the subassembly through the open cavity (6) thanks to the gas circulation allowed between the adjacent cavities, b2) inject insulating gas into the enclosure so as to fill at least the open cavity (6) of the subassembly, as well as each other cavity (5 ) of the sub-assembly through the open cavity (6) by virtue of the gas circulation permitted between the adjacent cavities and under the action of the vacuum previously produced in each other cavity in step b1), and b3) securing from the periphery of a main face of the second external glass sheet (4) to the second lateral face of the spacer frame (10) so as to close the second cavity (6) filled with insulating gas. 2. Method according to claim 1, in which, during the execution of steps b1) and b2), the second external glass sheet (4) is placed against the subassembly (la) so that only part of the periphery of a main face of the second external glass sheet (4) is applied against a corresponding part of the second lateral face of the spacer frame (10), thus leaving the corresponding cavity (6) ajar on the outside. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein step a) comprises providing the sub-assembly (la) with the spacer frame (10) assembled around at least one sheet of internal glass (2) with interposition continuous of a gasket between the edge of the internal glass sheet and at least the bottom of the groove around the entire periphery of the internal glass sheet, the gas circulation between the cavities adjacent to the internal glass sheet taking place passage between the lining and the edge of the internal glass sheet. 4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step a) comprises providing the sub-assembly (la) with the spacer frame (10) assembled around at least one sheet of internal glass (2) with interposition of a filling or a sealant between the edge of the internal glass sheet and at least the bottom of the groove (11) on the periphery of the internal glass sheet (2), the filling (50-1, 50 -2, 50-3, 50-4) or the sealant being interrupted on at least one longitudinal section of the groove (11) to define a space between the edge of the internal glass sheet (2) and the groove (11) allowing free passage of gas between the cavities adjacent to the internal glass sheet (2). 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein step a) comprises providing the sub-assembly (la) with the spacer frame (10) assembled around at least one sheet of internal glass ( 2) with the interposition of a lining (50) or a sealant between the edge of the internal glass sheet and at least the bottom of the groove (11) around the entire periphery of the internal glass sheet (2), the periphery of the internal glass sheet (2) having a cutout (2a) which extends at least partially outside the lining (50) or the mastic so as to allow free passage of the gas between the cavities adjacent to the internal glass sheet. 6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in step a) is used at least one internal glass sheet (2) having at least one through hole (2b) allowing a free passage of gas between the cavities adjacent to the internal glass sheet.