Patent Application
20190024441
The present invention relates to a gripping device and to a process for manufacturing an insulating glazing unit having at least three glass sheets. The invention also relates to a plant for manufacturing insulating glazing units.
Structures of insulating glazing units containing at least three glass sheets are known in which the or each central glass sheet is inserted into an internal peripheral groove of a spacer frame and the outer glass sheets are added to the lateral faces of the spacer frame. The assembling of the insulating glazing subassembly comprising the spacer frame and the or each central glass sheet received in the internal peripheral groove of the spacer frame, then the handling of this subassembly for the following steps of manufacturing the insulating glazing unit, are difficult to automate.
It is these drawbacks that the invention more particularly intends to rectify by providing a gripping device making it possible to manufacture an insulating glazing unit containing at least three glass sheets in an automated manner, while still guaranteeing optimal assembly quality for the insulating glazing unit. For this purpose, one object of the invention is a gripping device, characterized in that it is configured to hold an insulating glazing subassembly comprising a spacer frame and at least one central glass sheet received in an internal peripheral groove of the spacer frame, the gripping device comprising, on the one hand, members for gripping the spacer frame and, on the other hand, members for gripping the central glass sheet so as to ensure an independent gripping of the spacer frame and of the central glass sheet while allowing a relative movement of one with respect to the other.
By means of the invention, it is possible to have a differentiated gripping of the spacer frame, on the one hand, and of the central glass sheet, on the other hand, which is particularly important in the insulating glazing unit manufacturing steps where the spacer frame is mechanically stressed, in order to avoid a stressing of the central glass sheet capable of leading to a breakage of the central glass sheet. This possibility of differentiated gripping makes it possible to automate the insulating glazing unit manufacturing process, while limiting the risk of breakage of the glass sheets and the risk of an assembly defect of the insulating glazing unit. The result of this is an improved durability of the insulating glazing unit obtained.
Within the context of the invention, a “glass sheet” is understood to mean any type of transparent substrate suitable for its role in an insulating glazing unit. It may be a sheet of mineral glass, in particular an oxide glass that may be a silicate, borate, sulfate, phosphate, or other. As a variant, it may be a sheet of organic glass, for example of polycarbonate or of polymethyl methacrylate.
According to one aspect of the invention, each member for gripping the spacer frame is mounted on a retractable arm so as to free up access to the entire periphery of the spacer frame, in particular for the steps of assembling the spacer frame around the central glass sheet and of depositing a seal on the spacer frame. Advantageously, each member for gripping the spacer frame is borne by a frame of the gripping device.
In one embodiment, the gripping device comprises a bearing element in the vicinity of each member for gripping the spacer frame, this bearing element being intended to create a bearing point against a side wall of the spacer frame so as to limit a movement of the spacer frame in the direction of the frame of the gripping device, in particular during a pressing step. Advantageously, each bearing element is suitable for not degrading a seal optionally present on the side wall of the spacer frame that it supports, in particular each bearing element is a needle.
According to one aspect of the invention, each member for gripping the central glass sheet is mounted on an actuator, with a possibility of elastic releasing of the rod of the actuator so that the member for gripping the central glass sheet allows the central glass sheet to accompany the movement of the spacer frame when the latter is mechanically stressed, in particular during pressing steps. Such steps of pressing the spacer frame take place, in particular, during the assembling, in particular by welding, of the ends of the constituent profiles of the spacer frame at each corner of the spacer frame, and during the mounting of outer glass sheets to the spacer frame by application of each outer glass sheet against the corresponding side wall of the spacer frame.
Thus, each member for gripping the central glass sheet is suitable for ensuring a rigid gripping of the central glass sheet, when the rod of the actuator is prevented from moving in translation, or else on the contrary a flexible gripping of the central glass sheet, when the rod of the actuator is left slidingly movable against an elastic load. Advantageously, the elastic load is suitably chosen so that the central glass sheet smoothly accompanies the movement of the spacer frame when the latter is mechanically stressed.
In one embodiment, each member for gripping the central glass sheet is a suction pad borne by a frame of the gripping device.
According to an aspect of the invention, the gripping device is configured to hold the insulating glazing subassembly, comprising the spacer frame and the central glass sheet received in the internal peripheral groove of the spacer frame, in a station for assembling the spacer frame around the central glass sheet.
According to another aspect of the invention, the gripping device is configured to move the insulating glazing subassembly, comprising the spacer frame and the central glass sheet received in the internal peripheral groove of the spacer frame, through a plant for manufacturing insulating glazing units.
Another object of the invention is a process for manufacturing an insulating glazing unit, comprising the assembling of an insulating glazing subassembly which comprises a spacer frame and at least one central glass sheet, and the movement of this insulating glazing subassembly through a plant for manufacturing insulating glazing units, the insulating glazing subassembly being held during at least some steps of the process with the aid of a gripping device as described above.
According to one aspect of the invention, the process for manufacturing an insulating glazing unit comprises:
and, during these steps of assembling the spacer frame and of depositing a seal, the insulating glazing subassembly is held with the aid of the gripping device in a configuration where each member for gripping the spacer frame is retracted so as to free up access to the periphery of the spacer frame.
According to an aspect of the invention, the process for manufacturing an insulating glazing unit comprises:
and, during these steps of assembling the spacer frame and of mounting an outer glass sheet, the insulating glazing subassembly is held with the aid of the gripping device in a configuration where each member for gripping the central glass sheet provides a flexible gripping of the central glass sheet, so that the central glass sheet smoothly accompanies the movement of the spacer frame.
In one embodiment, the spacer frame is formed of four profiles angularly assembled at their ends, where each profile has a groove for receiving one edge of the central glass sheet, and the assembling of the insulating glazing subassembly comprises successive steps wherein:
Such assembling of the spacer frame around the central glass sheet guarantees a precise positioning of the end faces of the profiles bearing against one another at each corner of the frame, since the edges of the central glass sheet inserted in the grooves of the profiles provide a profile-guiding function. Consequently, the use of alignment brackets for the assembling at the corners of the spacer frame is not necessary. Advantageously, as the insertion of alignment brackets in the profiles is not required, it is possible to carry out the process according to the invention in an automated manner, which makes it possible to increase the productivity and reduce the production costs of insulating glazing units.
According to one feature, at each corner of the spacer frame, prior to the assembling of the ends of the two profiles forming the corner, the end faces of the two profiles are held in a configuration where they are aligned by superposition in one and the same plane, by the grooves of the two profiles gripping the two corresponding edges of the central glass sheet so as to surround the corner of the central glass sheet at the junction of the two edges.
In one preferred embodiment, the ends of the profiles are assembled at each corner of the spacer frame by ultrasonic welding.
Advantageously, at each corner of the spacer frame, during the ultrasonic welding of the ends of the two profiles, the sonotrode(s) of the welding device surround the corner of the spacer frame by being applied against an outer transverse wall of each of the two profiles. For this purpose, several sonotrode geometries are possible. In one embodiment, at each corner of the spacer frame, the assembling of the ends of the two profiles is carried out using two sonotrodes oriented perpendicular with respect to one another, which are configured in order to surround the corner of the spacer frame by each being applied against the outer transverse wall of one of the two profiles. As a variant, at each corner of the spacer frame, the assembling of the ends of the two profiles may be carried out using a single sonotrode having two vibration transmission surfaces oriented perpendicular with respect to one another, which are configured in order to surround the corner of the spacer frame with each vibration transmission surface that is applied against the outer transverse wall of one of the two profiles.
Preferably, for each profile of the spacer frame, the pressing force exerted during the welding by the sonotrode on the outer transverse wall of the profile is substantially perpendicular to the transverse wall, in order to avoid uncontrolled deformations of the profile. Furthermore, it is advantageous for the welding device to comprise stops suitable for coming into the immediate vicinity of the side walls of the profiles at each corner of the spacer frame during the welding, so that the profiles are confined in a restricted space between the stops, the sonotrode(s) and the central glass sheet during the welding at each corner of the spacer frame. This makes it possible to limit the deformations of the profiles and the appearance of undesirable overthicknesses at the surface, which are liable to give rise to sealing defects of the insulating glazing unit. In particular, surface defects in the side walls of the spacer frame that are intended to be adjacent to the outer glass sheets of the insulating glazing unit may cause discontinuities of the seals that provide the bond between the outer glass sheets and the spacer frame, which reduces the impermeability and the durability of the insulating glazing unit.
In an insulating glazing unit, the spacer frame is conventionally attached to the periphery of the two outer glass sheets with the aid of a peripheral seal, in the form of a bead of mastic generally based on polyisobutylene, or butyl, which is particularly efficient in terms of impermeability to water vapor and to gases. The glass sheets are held together and against the spacer frame by an external sealing barrier, which is applied over the entire outer perimeter of the spacer frame between the two outer glass sheets. The external sealing barrier may be formed, in particular, from a resin chosen from polysulfides, polyurethanes, silicones, hot-melt butyls, and combinations or mixtures thereof. These sealing products have a good adhesion to the glass sheets and mechanical properties that enable them to ensure that the glass components are held against the spacer.
According to one feature, at each corner of the spacer frame, the central glass sheet has a support function opposite the or each sonotrode, which holds the two profiles in a fixed position during the welding. The central glass sheet absorbs some of the energy due to the vibrations during the welding.
The frequency of the ultrasonic vibration for the welding at each corner of the spacer frame is of the order of 15 kHz to 40 kHz, preferably of the order of 30 kHz to 35 kHz. This preferred range of frequencies ensures a sufficient amplitude of the vibrations to make it possible to carry out remote welding, while avoiding damaging the surfaces and having a reasonable size of the components of the welding device.
In one embodiment, the assembling of the ends of the profiles is carried out simultaneously at the four corners of the spacer frame.
Preferably, for each profile of the spacer frame, each end face of the profile is inclined relative to the outer transverse wall of the profile at an angle of the order of 45°, so that the profile is capable of being assembled as a miter cut with the two adjacent profiles of the spacer frame.
Each profile of the spacer frame may be formed of metal and/or of polymer material. Examples of suitable metal materials include, in particular, aluminum or stainless steel. Examples of suitable polymer materials include, in particular, 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), styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN). Any combination or mixture of these materials can also be envisaged, for example each profile of the spacer frame may be based on polypropylene comprising a reinforcement formed by a stainless steel film. When it is based on polymer material, the profile is advantageously reinforced by fibers, in particular glass or carbon fibers. In one embodiment, each profile of the spacer frame is based on thermoplastic polymer.
According to one aspect of the invention, each profile of the spacer frame comprises at least two tubular portions and the groove for receiving one edge of the central glass sheet is delimited between the two tubular portions. Each tubular portion of the profile comprises two side walls, which are each intended to be adjacent to a glass sheet of the insulating glazing unit, and two transverse walls, which are intended to extend transversely relative to the glass sheets of the insulating glazing unit. One of the transverse walls, referred to as the inner transverse wall, is oriented toward a cavity of the insulating glazing unit whereas the other transverse wall, referred to as the outer transverse wall, is oriented toward the outside of the insulating glazing unit. Advantageously, for each profile of the spacer frame, the outer transverse walls of the various tubular portions are portions of one and the same outer transverse wall of the profile, which also defines the bottom of each groove.
Such a profile structure with at least two tubular portions enables the manufacture of multiple glazing units having at least three glass sheets. In particular, a profile with two tubular portions and one groove is suitable for the manufacture of a triple glazing unit, where two outer glass sheets are positioned on either side of the spacer frame, while a central glass sheet is received in the groove of each profile of the spacer frame. A profile with three tubular portions and two grooves is suitable for the manufacture of an insulating glazing unit with four glass sheets, where two outer glass sheets are positioned on either side of the spacer frame, while two central glass sheets are each received in a respective groove of each profile of the spacer frame. Similar configurations of insulating glazing units having more than four glass sheets may of course be obtained by increasing the number of tubular portions of the profiles of the spacer frame, and therefore the number of grooves capable of receiving a central glass sheet.
Irrespective of the number of tubular portions of the profiles of the spacer frame, and therefore the number of grooves capable of receiving a central glass sheet, the spacer frame of the insulating glazing unit is formed and assembled around the central glass sheet(s), by inserting the edges of each central glass sheet in the corresponding grooves of the profiles and by assembling the profiles in twos at their ends in the corners of the spacer frame.
In one embodiment, each profile of the spacer frame comprises a liner positioned in the groove for receiving the edge of the central glass sheet. The groove may have a width greater than the thickness of the central glass sheet. The liner is used to fasten the central glass sheet in the groove, while making it possible to compensate for possible thermal expansion variations of the central glass sheet. A stress-free fastening of the central glass sheet in the groove is thus ensured. Advantageously, the reduction of the stresses applied to the central glass sheet makes it possible to reduce the thickness and the weight of this glass sheet, relative to those used in insulating glazing units where the central glass sheet is fastened to the periphery of a spacer frame instead of being received in a groove. Installing a liner in the groove also makes it possible to adapt the profiles to various possible thicknesses of the central glass sheet. It is thus possible to use one and the same model of profile to manufacture insulating glazing units having central glass sheets of different thicknesses, without needing to produce profiles with a range of different groove widths, which is advantageous in terms of production costs. In one embodiment, the liner is configured to enable a balancing by circulation of gas between the cavities of the insulating glazing unit located on either side of the central glass sheet.
Advantageously, the liner positioned in the groove of each profile acts as a mechanical and sound damper, in particular during the insertion of the edges of the central glass sheet in the grooves of the profiles to form the spacer frame around the central glass sheet. The liner may be provided continuously along the length of the groove or discontinuously. Preferably, the liner is based on elastomer material, in particular made of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM). The liner may be obtained as one piece with the body of the profile by coextrusion. As a variant, when the body of the profile is made of polymer material, the assembly comprising the profile and the liner positioned in the groove may be obtained as a single piece by injection molding of two polymer materials.
According to one feature, for each profile of the spacer frame, each of the tubular portions of the profile defines a housing for receiving desiccant material. Preferably, the spacer frame comprises desiccant material in the tubular portions of at least two of its constituent profiles, in order to ensure a dehydration of each cavity formed between the glass sheets of the insulating glazing unit. The inner transverse wall of each tubular portion having desiccant material in its internal volume is provided with a plurality of perforations, so as to place the desiccant material in communication with the internal air or gas of the corresponding cavity. The desiccant material may thus absorb the moisture within the cavity and prevent the formation of condensation between the glass sheets of the insulating glazing unit. The desiccant material may be any material capable of ensuring a dehydration of the air or the gas space present in the cavities of the insulating glazing unit, in particular chosen from a molecular sieve, silica gel, CaCl2, Na2SO4, activated carbon, zeolites, and/or a mixture thereof. Preferably, the desiccant material is a molecular sieve and/or silica gel. The absorption capacity of these desiccant materials is greater than 20% of their weight.
Each cavity of the insulating glazing unit between the glass sheets may be filled with air. However, preferably, each cavity of the insulating glazing unit comprises a space filled with an insulating gas, which replaces the air between the glass sheets. Examples of gases used to form the insulating gas space in each cavity of the insulating glazing unit comprise, in particular, argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe). Advantageously, the insulating gas space in each cavity of the insulating glazing unit comprises at least 85% of a gas having a thermal conductivity lower than that of air. Suitable gases are preferably colorless, nontoxic, noncorrosive, nonflammable, and insensitive to exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
According to one feature, for at least one profile of the spacer frame, each of the tubular portions of the profile comprises a through-orifice, intended for the flow of gases between the corresponding cavity of the insulating glazing unit and the outside of the insulating glazing unit for the filling and/or evacuation of gas into/from the cavity. The through-orifice opens into the two transverse walls of the tubular portion, which are intended to extend transversely relative to the glass sheets of the insulating glazing unit. Preferably, at least two profiles of the spacer frame comprise through-orifices, such that, in at least one configuration where the spacer frame is substantially vertical, the through-orifice of one profile among these two profiles is in a bottom position whilst the through-orifice of the other profile among these two profiles is in a top position. Such an arrangement of two through-orifices of the spacer frame is advantageous for filling each cavity of the insulating glazing unit with an insulating gas that is denser than air, by injecting the insulating gas into the cavity through the through-orifice located in a bottom position and evacuation of the air present in the cavity through the through-orifice located in a top position.
According to one feature, for the insertion of the four edges of the or each central glass sheet into the grooves of the four profiles of the spacer frame, the following steps are carried out:
The spacer frame is here assembled around the central glass sheet. The central glass sheet is used as a frame of reference for the assembly, which greatly limits the risk of geometric defects of the spacer frame appearing, in particular in comparison with the assembly processes of the prior art where the profiles of the spacer frame are positioned successively relative to one another with no frame of reference other than the profiles themselves, which may lead to an accumulation of misalignments during the assembly.
Very advantageously, the process for assembling the insulating glazing subassembly comprising the spacer frame and at least one central glass sheet may be completely automated. In particular, the step of positioning the profiles on the movable supports of the assembly device and the step of positioning the central glass sheet in the assembly device may be carried out by one or more robot grippers, whilst the step of inserting the edges of the central glass sheet into the grooves of the profiles with the aid of the movable supports and the step of welding the ends of the profiles at each corner of the spacer frame may be carried out automatically by the assembly device once it has detected that the profiles and the central glass sheet have been correctly positioned.
According to one feature, before the insertion of the four edges of the central glass sheet in the grooves of the four profiles, the central glass sheet is passed through a washing station of a plant for manufacturing insulating glazing units.
Advantageously, once assembled, the insulating glazing subassembly comprising the spacer frame and at least one central glass sheet received in an internal peripheral groove of the spacer frame is moved through successive stations of a plant for manufacturing insulating glazing units with the aid of the gripping device in accordance with the invention comprising both members for gripping the spacer frame and members for gripping the central glass sheet.
In one embodiment, once assembled, the insulating glazing subassembly comprising the spacer frame and at least one central glass sheet received in an internal peripheral groove of the spacer frame may pass successively:
According to one feature, at least one profile of the spacer frame is a profile that has been prefilled with desiccant material before the assembly of the insulating glazing subassembly comprising the spacer frame and at least one central glass sheet. In particular, the filling of the profile(s) of the spacer frame with desiccant material may be carried out in-line, in a dedicated facility for preparing the profiles, located upstream of the station for assembling the spacer frame around the central glass sheet. This facility for preparing the profiles may for example supply a profile store, in which an operator or a robot gripper picks up profiles in order to position them on the movable supports of the assembly device. Advantageously, the preparation of the profiles upstream of the station for assembling the spacer frame around the central glass sheet comprises cutting the profile to the desired length, filling the profile with a desiccant material, and optionally piercing the profile to create a gas flow through-orifice.
Another object of the invention is an insulating glazing unit obtained by the process of the invention, comprising an insulating glazing subassembly as described above and two outer glass sheets fastened on either side of the spacer frame, being substantially parallel to the central glass sheet.
Another object of the invention is a plant for manufacturing insulating glazing units, comprising:
the plant also comprising, in order to hold the insulating glazing subassembly in the assembly station and to move it from one station to another, a gripping device as described above.
According to one advantageous aspect, the plant comprises a station for positioning and measuring glass sheets, which comprises a wedging device configured to position a glass sheet in a reference position, and a measuring device configured to measure the sides of the glass sheet starting from the reference position.
The station for assembling the insulating glazing subassembly may comprise an assembly device having, on the one hand, a plurality of movable supports capable of receiving four spacer frame profiles in order to position them with their grooves gripping the edges of the central glass sheet and, on the other hand, a device for welding the ends of the profiles at each corner of the spacer frame when the profiles of the spacer frame are positioned with their grooves gripping the edges of the central glass sheet.
Advantageously, each welding device has one or two sonotrodes configured to surround the corner of the spacer frame by being applied against an outer transverse wall of each of the two profiles.
In one embodiment, the station for assembling an insulating glazing subassembly and the station for depositing a seal are stations that are located parallel to a main line comprising the station for washing glass sheets, the station for mounting outer glass sheets to the spacer frame and the station for sealing an insulating glazing unit.
The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of embodiments of a gripping device, of a process and of a plant for manufacturing insulating glazing units according to the invention, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
The figures illustrate a process and a plant for manufacturing triple glazing units 10, which comprise two outer glass sheets 12 and 14 positioned on either side of a spacer frame 20 and a central glass sheet 16 received in an internal peripheral groove of the spacer frame. The manufacture of the insulating glazing unit 10 involves the assembling of the spacer frame 20 around the central glass sheet 16, by insertion of the edges of the central glass sheet 16 in grooves 3 of the constituent profiles 1 of the spacer frame 20, then welding of the ends 1A, 1B of the profiles 1 at each corner of the spacer frame without an alignment bracket.
The spacer frame 20 is formed of four profiles 1, which are assembled as miter cut at their ends. As shown in
Each tubular portion 4 also comprises two transverse walls which, in the insulating glazing unit 10, extend transversely relative to the glass sheets 12, 14 and 16, comprising an inner transverse wall 42 or 44 oriented toward an internal cavity 17 or 19 of the insulating glazing unit and an outer transverse wall oriented toward the outside of the insulating glazing unit. The outer transverse walls of the two tubular portions 4 are portions of an outer transverse wall 8 of the profile 1, which also defines the bottom of the groove 3. In order to reduce the heat transfer through the body 2 of the profile to the cavities 17 and 19 of the insulating glazing unit, the body 2 comprises a thermally insulating depositing 22 on the outer surface of the transverse wall 8.
The bond between each glass sheet 12 or 14 and the adjacent wall 43 or 45 of the profile 1 is provided by a respective butyl sealing bead 13 or 15. The insulating glazing unit 10 also comprises an external sealing barrier 18 made of polysulfide resin, which is applied over the entire outer perimeter of the spacer frame between the two glass sheets 12 and 14, so as to hold the glass sheets 12 and 14 together and against the spacer frame. Furthermore, the profile 1 comprises a liner 11 positioned in the groove 3 for receiving the edge of the central glass sheet 16. This liner 11 is made of EPDM and makes it possible to ensure a stress-free fastening of the central glass sheet 16 in the groove 3. The liner 11 also acts as a mechanical and sound damper, in particular during the insertion of the edges of the central glass sheet 16 in the grooves of the profiles 1 in order to form the spacer frame 20 around the central glass sheet.
Each tubular portion 4 of the profile 1 defines a housing 5, delimited by the side and transverse walls of the tubular portion, found in which is a desiccant material 6 that may be, for example, a molecular sieve or silica gel. The inner transverse walls 42 and 44 of the tubular portions 4 are provided with a plurality of perforations 49, so that the desiccant material 6 is capable of absorbing the moisture within each cavity 17 and 19 of the insulating glazing unit, which makes it possible to prevent the formation of condensation between the glass sheets 12 and 16 and between the glass sheets 14 and 16. The profile 1 also comprises two gas flow through-orifices 9, which are made in one and the other tubular portions 4 in the vicinity of the end 1B of the profile. Each through-orifice 9 opens into the two transverse walls of the corresponding tubular portion 4. Once the profile 1 is integrated in an insulating glazing unit, the through-orifices 9 may be used to fill the cavities 17 and 19 with an insulating gas and/or to evacuate air out of the cavities 17 and 19.
As is clearly visible in
The plant also comprises a conveyor belt 38, which passes through the washing station 40, the inspection station 48, the mounting station 70 and the sealing station. Furthermore, in order to hold the subassembly 7 in the assembly station 50 and to move the subassembly 7 between the assembly station 50 and the butyl-depositing station 60, then to move it within the butyl-depositing station 60, then to move it between the butyl-depositing station 60 and the post 71 of the mounting station 70, the plant comprises two robots R2 and R3.
The robots R2 and R3 are each provided with a gripping device 90 comprising both supports 93 for gripping the spacer frame 20 and suction pads 92 for gripping the central glass sheet 16. As shown in
More specifically, as seen in
Steps that require access to the periphery of the spacer frame 20 comprise, in particular, the step of ultrasonic welding of the ends of the profiles 1 at each corner of the spacer frame in the assembly station 50, and the step of depositing sealing beads 13 and 15 on the side walls 43 and 45 of the spacer frame in the butyl depositing station 60.
Furthermore, as can be seen in
In particular, in order to avoid any damaging of the central glass sheet 16, a flexible gripping of the central glass sheet 16 is required when a pressing force is applied on the spacer frame 20. Steps involving a pressing force exerted on the spacer frame 20 comprise, in particular, the step of ultrasonic welding of the ends of the profiles 1 at each corner of the spacer frame in the assembly station 50, and the step of pressing the outer glass sheet 14 against the spacer frame in the post 71 of the mounting station 70.
During the pressing of the outer glass sheet 14 against the butyl-deposited side wall 45 of the spacer frame in the post 71, the spacer frame 20 tends to move in the direction of the frame 91 of the device 90, as shown by the arrow F from
By way of example, the process for manufacturing a triple glazing unit 10 comprises steps as described below, which are illustrated in
Firstly, the constituent profiles 1 of the spacer frame 20 are prepared in a profile preparation plant, not represented, which is located upstream of the store 30 and which supplies the store 30 with profiles 1. The preparation of the profiles 1 comprises the cutting of the profile to the desired length, the shaping of its ends 1A and 1B according to a 45° bevelled shape, the filling of the two tubular portions 4 of the profile with a desiccant material 6 such as a molecular sieve or silica gel, the piercing of the profile to create a gas flow through-orifice 9 in each of the two tubular portions 4.
Four profiles 1 thus prepared are collected by the robot gripper R1 from the store 30, in order to form the spacer frame 20 of the insulating glazing unit in the assembly station 50. In the process illustrated in
While the robot R1 positions the profiles 1 in the assembly device 51, the robot R2 will look for a central glass sheet 16 in the inspection station 48, that has previously passed through the washing station 40. The robot R2 holds the central glass sheet 16 by means of the suction pads 92 of its gripping device 90. The robot R2 moves the central glass sheet 16 from the inspection station 48 to the assembly station 50, where it positions it so that each of its edges is opposite the position that is or will be occupied by the groove 3 of a profile 1 positioned on the movable supports 53 in initial loading configuration.
The assembly device 51 is programmed to detect this configuration and to trigger a simultaneous movement of the movable supports 53 bearing the profiles 1, so as to simultaneously insert the four edges of the central glass sheet 16 in the grooves 3 of the four profiles 1. The spacer frame 20 of the insulating glazing unit is thus formed around the central glass sheet 16. Very advantageously, the central glass sheet 16 is used as a frame of reference for the assembling of the frame 20, which greatly limits the appearance of geometric defects of the frame. The movable supports 53 hold the profiles 1 in contact with the edges of the central glass sheet 16. In particular, at each corner of the spacer frame 20, the movable supports 53 hold the end faces S1 of the profiles in a configuration where they are aligned by superposition in one and the same plane.
Starting from this configuration, the assembly device 51 automatically actuates the four welding heads 55 so that they carry out the welding of the ends of the profiles 1 at each corner of the spacer frame 20. As can be clearly seen in
Once the welding has been carried out at each corner of the spacer frame 20, the robot R2 removes the subassembly 7 comprising the spacer frame 20 assembled around the central glass sheet 16 from the assembly station 50 and transfers it to the robot R3 in the butyl-depositing station 60, this transfer step between the robot R2 and the robot R3 being able to be seen in
As shown in
When the spacer frame 20 of the subassembly 7 has been butyl deposited over its entire periphery, the robot R3 moves the subassembly 7 to the post 71 of the mounting station 70, where a first outer glass sheet 14 is waiting. The outer glass sheet 14 is then pressed against the butyl-deposited side wall 45 of the spacer frame which is still held, in the same way as the glass sheet 16, by the robot R3 with the aid of its gripping device 90. The assembly comprising the glass sheet 14 and the subassembly 7, which are attached at the butyl bead 15, is then conveyed on the conveyor belt 38 into the press 73, where a second outer glass sheet 12 is applied to the subassembly 7 at the butyl bead 13. The filling with insulating gas of the two cavities 17 and 19 defined between the glass sheets 12, 14, 16 may also take place in the press 73, before the assembly is transferred to a sealing station, not visible in the figures, which is located at the outlet of the press 73 and in which the external sealing barrier 18 made of polysulfide resin is applied to the outer perimeter of the spacer frame 20 between the outer glass sheets 12 and 14.
As it emerges from
Furthermore, according to another variant, it may be envisaged to replace the assembly of the inspection station 48 and of the post 71 of the mounting station 70 by a single station 80 for positioning and measuring glass sheets, as shown for example in
In the example shown in
The horizontal wedging device 83 comprises a plurality of wedges 85 positioned between the rollers of the conveyor belt 38 and attached to one and the same support that is movable between a low position, visible as solid lines in
The vertical wedging device 86 comprises a single wedge, which is movable between a retracted position, in which the wedge 86 is set back relative to the zone of movement of glass sheets on the rollers of the conveyor belt 38, so that a glass sheet 12, 14, 16 can be brought by the conveyor belt 38 to the station 80, and a deployed position, visible as dotted lines in
The station 80 also comprises measurement heads for measuring the dimensions of a glass sheet 12, 14, 16 received in the station 80 in the reference position, comprising a head 87 for measuring the dimension along the horizontal direction X and a head 88 measuring the dimension along the vertical direction Y. Generally, the measurement of the dimensions along the X, Y, Z directions of a glass sheet received in the station 80 may be carried out on the fly, by a mobile sensor, etc. The precise measurement of the dimensions along the X, Y, Z directions of each glass sheet used for the manufacture of an insulating glazing unit 10, starting from the reference position, makes it possible in particular to:
By way of example, the process for manufacturing a triple glazing unit 10 using the station 80 shown in
A central glass sheet 16, previously passed through the washing station 40, is brought to the station 80 by the conveyor belt 38, then is positioned in the reference position by means of the horizontal wedging device 83 and vertical wedging device 86. More specifically, once the central glass sheet 16 has arrived at the station 80, the portion of the conveyor belt 38 positioned in the station 80 is immobilized, the vertical wedge 86 is deployed, the rollers of the portion of the conveyor belt 38 positioned in the station 80 make a slight backward movement so as to bring the left vertical edge of the glass sheet 16 to bear against the wedge 86, the wedges 85 of the horizontal wedging device are moved into the high position with the glass sheet 16 bearing via its lower edge against the wedges 85. The central glass sheet 16 is then in the reference position, and the measurement heads 87, 88 carry out the measurement of the dimensions along the X, Y, Z directions of the central glass sheet 16 in the reference position. The data from the measurements along the X, Y, Z directions of the central glass sheet 16 in the reference position are sent to the plant for preparing the profiles 1 upstream of the store 30 in order to verify and/or adjust the dimensions of the profiles 1.
While the robot R1 positions the profiles 1 in the assembly device 51, the robot R2 will look for the central glass sheet 16 in the reference position in the station 80, by means of the suction pads 92 of its gripping device 90. The robot R2 then positions the central glass sheet 16 in the assembly station 50, and the process in the assembly station 50 continues in a similar manner to that which was described above with reference to
Once the welding has been carried out at each corner of the spacer frame 20, the robot R2 removes the subassembly 7 comprising the spacer frame 20 assembled around the central glass sheet 16 from the assembly station 50 and positions it in the butyl-depositing station 60, where it moves it opposite the butyl-depositing head 61, so as to deposit the sealing beads 13 and 15 at the periphery of the spacer frame 20 on the two side walls 43 and 45 of each of the four sides of the frame.
When the spacer frame 20 of the subassembly 7 has been butyl-deposited over its entire periphery, the robot R2 brings the subassembly 7 back to the station 80, where a first outer glass sheet 14 is waiting in the reference position. In the station 80, the measurement of the dimensions along the X, Y, Z directions of the outer glass sheet 14 in the reference position has taken place, which makes it possible to adapt the parameters for the pressing of the outer glass sheet 14 against the butyl-deposited side wall 45 of the spacer frame of the subassembly 7 held by the robot R2. The outer glass sheet 14 is then pressed against the butyl-deposited side wall 45 of the spacer frame which is still held, in the same way as the glass sheet 16, by the robot R2 with the aid of its gripping device 90. The assembly comprising the glass sheet 14 and the subassembly 7, which are attached at the butyl bead 15, is then conveyed on the conveyor belt 38 into the press 73, where a second outer glass sheet 12 is applied to the subassembly 7 at the butyl bead 13, as described above with reference to
As it emerges from the preceding examples, the process according to the invention may be carried out in a completely automated manner, which makes it possible to increase the productivity and to reduce the production costs of insulating glazing units containing at least three glass sheets. The process according to the invention also has the advantage of guaranteeing a precise positioning of the end faces of the profiles of the spacer frame, by means of the assembling of the frame around at least one central glass sheet, which makes it possible to limit the appearance of geometric defects of the spacer frame and therefore to ensure a good durability of the insulating glazing units.
The invention is not limited to the examples described and represented. In particular, the process according to the invention has been described in the case where it is completely automated, but it is of course possible to carry out the invention with a partial automation, or even without automation. Furthermore, the invention has been described with an assembling of the profiles of the spacer frame at their ends by ultrasonic welding. Other assembly techniques are however also possible, as long as they are compatible with the fact that the spacer frame is assembled around at least one central glass sheet. As already mentioned, the number of tubular portions of the profiles of the spacer frame may also be greater than two, with a groove defined by each pair of adjacent tubular portions, which enables the manufacture of insulating glazing units comprising four or more glass sheets. In this case, the process for manufacturing the insulating glazing unit may be similar to that described above for the manufacture of triple glazing units, with the difference that the assembling of the spacer frame no longer takes place around a single central glass sheet, but several juxtaposed central glass sheets.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1563509 | Dec 2015 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2016/053693 | 12/31/2016 | WO | 00 |
