EP1769130B1 - Method and device for assembling insulating glass panes filled with a gas other than air - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for assembling insulating glass panes filled with a gas other than air. According to said method, two glass sheets provided with a spacer are arranged in a vertical or inclined position and facing each other, gas that is different from air is introduced into a chamber from below and the insulating glass pane is formed by moving the glass sheets closer to each other after reaching a desired gas filling level. According to the invention, the gas is homogenized before said gas is introduced through said gap.

Description

The invention is based on a method having the features specified in the preamble of patent claim 1 and of a device having the features specified in the preamble of claim 20. Such a method and an apparatus for carrying out such a method are known from EP 0 674 086 A1 known. In the known method, a first glass sheet and a second, provided with a spacer glass plate standing on a horizontal conveyor, which has a belt as a conveyor member, conveyed into the space between two spaced-apart press plates. Between the press plates, they are positioned parallel to each other and congruent with each other, so that between the spacer and the glass panel opposite it remains circumferentially an open gap. In addition to the vertical edges of the glass sheets thus arranged, gaskets are arranged which are effective between the press plates and extend down to the upper run of the belt which closes down the space between the two glass sheets which stand on top of it. From below a heavy gas is introduced into the chamber, which is bounded by the belt, the glass sheets, the two pressing plates and the vertical seals acting between them. The heavy gas rises in this chamber and its supply is stopped when a certain degree of filling is reached. Then one of the press plates of the other press plate is approximated to close the insulating glass pane.

For the introduction of the heavy gas are in the EP 0 674 086 A1 different possibilities indicated:

The heavy gas is supplied either through openings in the Iotrechten seals or through the belt serving as a conveyor member. Both are disadvantageous. When feeding the heavy gas through openings in the vertical seals you need moving, coupled to the movable seals Gäszuführeinrichtungen, which requires some equipment and complicated the construction of the seals. Moreover, as heavy gas is introduced through openings in the vertical gaskets located at the front and rear edges of the two glass panels, it is difficult to evenly displace the air between the glass panels, the more difficult the longer the glass panels are. The introduction of heavy gas through the belt is disadvantageous because it is contrary to the main task of the belt to convey the glass sheets and close the gap between the glass sheets down. The EP 0 674 086 A1 does not disclose a feasible way to deliver the heavy gas through a unitary belt. Described is the ability to arrange two straps spaced apart on a channel having upwardly directed openings located between the two straps. Through the channel supplied heavy gas can then rise through the openings between the belt in the space between the glass sheets. The disadvantage here is that two separate belts are sealed and that the horizontal conveyor must be designed to be transversely displaceable for adaptation to different thickness glass panels and different thickness of insulating glass panes.

The present invention has for its object to provide a way how insulating glass panes between two plates of a vertical assembly device for insulating glass panes can be filled with less effort evenly and with high degree of filling with a gas other than air and then closed.

This object is achieved by a method having the features specified in claim 1 and by a device having the features specified in claim 20. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention, the insulating glass panes are not horizontally filled with a gas other than air and assembled, but in a vertical or inclined position so that the gas other than air, in particular a heavy gas, which is specifically heavier than air, for example argon, in the lower region be supplied to the insulating glass to be formed and displace the air initially located between the glass panels upwards. With a sufficiently slow and even flow, the specific lighter air on the heavier gas can be floated upwards without mixing too much with the heavy gas.

Production lines for insulating glass panes, in which the glass sheets from which the insulating glass panes are assembled, standing and against a tilted support means from one station of the production line to the next station of the Production line are generally referred to as "vertical" Fertigüngslinien.

• ◆ Der Spalt zwischen dem Riemen und der einen Glastafel (nachfolgend als die "erste" Glastafel bezeichnet) erstreckt sich über die gesamte Länge des unteren Randes der ersten Glastafel.
• ◆ Deshalb kann ein von Luft verschiedenes Gas über die gesamte Länge der Glastafelanordnung eingeleitet werden.
• ◆ Deshalb kann das Gas auf der gesamten Länge der Glastafelanordnung gleichmäßig von unten nach oben hochsteigen.
• ◆ Die Erfindung eignet sich nicht nur für Isolierglasscheiben mit rechteckigem Umriss, sondern auch für solche mit nicht-rechteckigen Umriss, zum Beispiel mit dreieckigem Umriss oder mit bogenförmigen Randabschnitten. Solche Isolierglasscheiben werden als Modellscheiben bezeichnet.
• ◆ Für Zwecke der Erfindung kann ein einheitlicher, dichter Riemen verwendet werden.
• ◆ Der Riemen kann ohne weiteres breiter sein als die dicksten in der Praxis vorkommenden Isolierglasscheiben. Vorzugsweise ist der Riemen zwischen 100 mm und 140 mm breit.
• ◆ Da der Spalt, durch den hindurch das von Luft verschiedene Gas zugeführt wird, stets am unteren Rand der ersten Glastafel liegt, findet man bei Anwendung der Erfindung für das Gasfüllen von unterschiedlich dicken Isolierglasscheiben im wesentlich gleichbleibende Bedingungen für das Zuführen von Gas vor. Der Riemen, welcher vorzugsweise das Förderglied eines Waagerechtfördereres ist, muß deshalb nicht an unterschiedlich dicke Isolierglasscheiben oder an unterschiedlich dicke Glastafeln angepasst werden. Das ist ein wesentlicher Vorteil gegenüber dem aus der EP 0 674 086 A1 bekannten Stand der Technik, bei welchem der Waagerechtförderer zwei parallel laufende Riemen hat, zwischen denen das Schwergas aus einem Zuführkanal hochsteigt. Dieser bekannte Waagerechtförderer muß nämlich durch Querverschieben an unterschiedlich dicke Glastafeln und Isolierglasscheiben angepasst werden.
• ◆ Mit Hilfe des erfindungsgemäß vorgesehenen einheitlichen Riemens läßt sich die Scheibenanordnung während des Gasfüllvorganges nach unten hin einfach abdichten:
  • Der Riemen liegt dem unteren Rand der einen Glastafel auf jeden Fall an und dichtet dort ab. Der Riemen erstreckt sich bis unter den unteren Rand der anderen Glastafel und noch darüber hinaus, so dass dort nur noch der Spalt zwischen dem Riemen und dem unteren Rand der Glastafel abzudichten ist. Das kann dadurch geschehen, dass an diesem Spalt die Mündung eines Kanals oder einer langgestreckten Düse vorgesehen wird, durch welche das von Luft verschiedene Gas zugeführt wird. Dieser Kanal oder diese Düse kann so gebildet werden, dass sie den Spalt zwischen dem Riemen und dem unteren Rand der betreffenden Glastafel rückseitig abschließt.
• ◆ Neben den aufragenden Rändern der Glastafelanordnung kann man, wie im Stand der Technik bekannt, Dichtungen anordnen, welche sich von einer oberhalb des Riemens gelegenen Stelle bis auf den Riemen erstrecken. Die Dichtungen können unmittelbar an die Ränder der Glastafeln angelegt werden. In einem solchen Fall kann der Gasfüllvorgang auch außerhalb einer Isolierglaspresse stattfinden. In den meisten Fällen werden die Glasscheiben für den Zusammenbau einer Isolierglasscheibe jedoch zwischen zwei Pressplatten positioniert, der Zwischenraum zwischen den Glastafeln mit einem von Luft verschiedenen Gas gefüllt, die Isolierglasscheibe zusammengebaut und verpresst. Vorzugsweise wird auch das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren in einer Vorrichtung zum Zusammenbauen und Verpressen von Isolierglasscheiben ausgeübt, welche zwei in ihrem gegenseitigen Abstand veränderliche Platten hat, zwischen welchen die Glastafeln einander paarweise gegenüberliegend positioniert und - gegebenenfalls nach dem Gasfüllen - dadurch geschlossen werden, dass die beiden Glastafeln durch Verringern des Abstandes der beiden Platten einander angenähert werden, bis die erste Glastafel auf den Abstandhalter trifft und mit ihm verklebt. In der Nähe des unteren Randes der Platten hat eine solche Vorrichtung üblicherweise einen Waagerechtförderer, auf welchem die Glastafeln stehend und gegen eine der Platten gelehnt in die Vorrichtung gefördert und auf welchem die zusammengebaute Isolierglasscheibe stehend und gegen eine der Platten gelehnt herausgefördert wird. Erfindungsgemäß hat der Waagerechtförderer als Förderglied einen Riemen.
• ◆ Bestehende Fertigungslinien für Isolierglasscheiben können mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung nachgerüstet werden. Außerdem ist es möglich, bestehende Vorrichtungen zum Gasfüllen und Zusammenbauen von Isolierglasscheiben in eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung umzubauen.
• ◆ Für die Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens und für den Bau einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung kann weitgehend auf Bauteile und Baugruppen zurückgegriffen werden, welche in Fertigungslinien für Isolierglasscheiben bewährter Stand der Technik sind. Die Erfindung kann deshalb preiswert in die Praxis umgesetzt werden.
• ◆ Die Erfindung ermöglicht ein gleichmäßiges Füllen von Isolierglasscheiben mit einem von Luft verschiedenen Gas mit hohen Füllgraden bei verhältnismäßig geringen Gasverlusten.
• ◆ Bei Ausübung der Erfindung können kürzere Taktzeiten als bisher erreicht werden.

When gas filling and assembling of insulating glass panes of glass panels, which are arranged vertically or inclined, the invention makes a departure from the prior art that the gas filling the pairwise opposed glass panels are not both on a belt, but that only one of the two glass panels with its lower edge touches the belt, whereas between the belt and the lower edge of the other glass sheet a gap is made through which the gas other than air can be introduced into the space between the two glass sheets. This has significant advantages:

• The gap between the belt and the one glass panel (hereinafter referred to as the "first" glass panel) extends the entire length of the lower edge of the first glass panel.
• Therefore, a gas other than air can be introduced over the entire length of the glass sheet assembly.
• ◆ Therefore, the gas can rise evenly from bottom to top along the entire length of the glass sheet assembly.
• ◆ The invention is suitable not only for insulating glass panes with a rectangular outline, but also for those with a non-rectangular outline, for example with a triangular outline or with curved edge sections. Such insulating glass panes are referred to as model panes.
• For purposes of the invention, a unitary, tight belt can be used.
• ◆ The belt can be wider than the thickest insulating glass panes in practice. Preferably, the belt is between 100 mm and 140 mm wide.
• ◆ Since the gap through which the gas other than air is supplied is always at the bottom of the first glass sheet, it is found Application of the invention for the gas filling of different thicknesses insulating glass panes in substantially constant conditions for the supply of gas before. The belt, which is preferably the conveying member of a horizontal conveyor, therefore need not be adapted to different thickness insulating glass panes or to different thickness glass panels. This is a significant advantage over that from the EP 0 674 086 A1 known prior art, in which the horizontal conveyor has two parallel belts, between which the heavy gas rises from a feed channel. Namely, this known horizontal conveyor must be adapted by transverse shifting to glass panes of different thicknesses and insulating glass panes.
• With the aid of the uniform belt provided according to the invention, the disk arrangement can be easily sealed downwards during the gas filling process:
  • The belt lies on the bottom edge of a glass panel in any case and seals there. The belt extends to below the lower edge of the other glass sheet and beyond, so that there is only the gap between the belt and the bottom edge of the glass sheet to seal. This can be done by providing at this gap the mouth of a channel or an elongated nozzle, through which the gas other than air is supplied. This channel or nozzle can be formed so that it closes the gap between the belt and the lower edge of the respective glass panel back.
• In addition to the upstanding edges of the glass sheet assembly, as known in the art, seals may be arranged extending from a location above the belt to the belt. The seals can be applied directly to the edges of the glass panels. In such a case, the gas filling process may also take place outside of an insulating glass press. In most cases, the glass panes for the assembly of an insulating glass pane but positioned between two press plates, the space between the glass panels with filled gas different from the air, the insulating glass pane assembled and pressed. Preferably, the method according to the invention is also carried out in an apparatus for assembling and pressing insulating glass panes, which has two plates which are mutually adjustable in their spacing between which the glass sheets are positioned opposite one another in pairs and, if appropriate after gas filling, closed by the two glass sheets by approximating the distance between the two plates, until the first glass sheet strikes and sticks to the spacer. In the vicinity of the lower edge of the plates, such a device usually has a horizontal conveyor on which the glass sheets, standing and supported against one of the plates, are conveyed into the device and on which the assembled insulating glass pane is conveyed upright and leaned against one of the plates. According to the invention, the horizontal conveyor has a belt as a conveyor member.
• ◆ Existing production lines for insulating glass panes can be retrofitted with a device according to the invention. In addition, it is possible to convert existing devices for gas filling and assembly of insulating glass in a device according to the invention.
• For the implementation of the method according to the invention and for the construction of a device according to the invention, it is possible to make extensive use of components and subassemblies which are proven state of the art in production lines for insulating glass panes. The invention can therefore be implemented inexpensively in practice.
• ◆ The invention enables a uniform filling of insulating glass panes with a gas other than air with high degrees of filling at relatively low gas losses.
• ◆ When practicing the invention shorter cycle times can be achieved than before.

When according to claim 3, the inventive method between the plates of a "vertical" device for gas filling and assembly of insulating glass is carried out, then seals which are to be arranged next to the rising edges of the glass panels, the edges of the glass sheets applied or at a certain distance from The edges of the glass panels are applied to the two plates. The last option given is preferred. It is best to position a pair of glass sheets at one of the ends of the sheets and place one of the movable seals against these ends of the sheets. The other movable seal can be moved between the plates in the conveying direction of the belt to next to the rising edges of the glass panels.

The glass sheets are to face each other during gas filling so that they can be connected by closing the glass sheets, in particular by approaching the plates of the apparatus for gas filling and assembling of insulating glass panes, to form a closed insulating glass pane. In the case of plates of a press, the distance of which can be changed by rectilinear displacement, the glass sheets are already congruent and parallel to one another during gas filling.

The gap between the belt and the one glass sheet through which the gas other than air is filled can be made in different ways. One option is to lift the glass sheet off the belt. Another way to provide a distance between the lower edge of the glass sheet and the belt, is to pivot the belt about an axis parallel to the conveying direction, with a pivoting angle of a few degrees sufficient.

In a device for gas filling and assembly of insulating glass panes, the plates are usually provided with holes through which air can optionally be blown or sucked. By blowing is between the plate and a glass plate leaning against it produces an air cushion on which it can slide gently during transport. For fixing a glass sheet to such a plate, it is sucked. To lift a glass sheet from the belt, the glass sheet can first be sucked from its plate and then lifted by briefly lifting the plate, which can be done with pressure cylinders.

In order to fix the glass panels to the plates, it is preferred that they rest flat against the plates. They can then be held by suction on one or the other plate of the assembly device.

For carrying out the invention, either the first glass sheet or the second glass plate provided with a spacer can be brought with its lower edge at a distance from the belt. Preferably, this is done with the first glass sheet on which there is no spacer. The gas can then flow by the shortest route, immediately behind the edge of the first glass sheet in the space between the glass panels and finds for this in all possible insulating glass pane thicknesses approximately the same conditions.

For introducing the gas other than air into the space between the glass sheets, an elongated nozzle can be pushed into the gap between the belt and the edge of the first glass sheet spaced therefrom, from the side. Instead of a uniform elongate nozzle, a plurality of individually shut-off nozzles can be provided one behind the other in the conveying direction. This has the advantage that the length of the nozzle arrangement can be matched to the length of the insulating glass pane. The apparatus required for a displacement of the nozzle assembly can be saved if, in a further development of the invention, an elongate nozzle or an elongated arrangement of individually lockable nozzles attaches to the underside of the plate at which the glass plate removed from the belt during gas filling is arranged, especially the first glass pane. The supply device for the gas is then without one of it separate Zustellbewegung required, in all possible insulating glass formats always at the point at which the gas can enter into the space between the glass panels. By applying the belt to the underside or to a lower edge of the nozzle or nozzle assembly can be done on this plate, a seal down. By applying the belt to the underside of the other plate can also be made there a seal down, and between the belt and the plate nor an elongated seal, in particular a sealing profile, which is preferably hollow, may be attached to the underside of the plate.

In an apparatus for assembling insulating glass, both plates can be movable. An apparatus in which this is the case is in EP 0 615 044 A1 disclosed. On the other hand, devices for assembling insulating glass panes in which only one of the two plates is movable and the other is immovable are conventional. In this case, according to the invention, it is preferable to supply the gas other than air through a nozzle assembly disposed on the movable plate. Namely, the movable plate is best for taking over and fixing the first glass plate not yet provided with a spacer. In such a device, in which a movable plate parallel to itself is movable perpendicular to a fixed plate, two glass sheets are positioned opposite each other by firstly feeding the first glass sheet leaning against the fixed plate into the apparatus and stopping in a predetermined position , Then the movable plate is moved against the first glass sheet, sucks it and goes back to its original position, taking with it the first glass sheet. Only then is the second glass sheet, leaning against the fixed plate, conveyed into the device and positioned congruent to the first glass plate.

In a vertical device for assembling insulating glass panes, the horizontal conveyor in the prior art is designed to be Conveying member or its conveying members a right angle with the surface of the plates. So is that also from the EP 0 674 086 A1 known device in which the upper run of the belt is oriented at right angles to the mutually facing surfaces of the plates, so that the glass plates are supported and positioned the entire surface of the plates lying flat with its lower edge on the belt and positioned.

In a device in which two sheets of glass are assembled between two flat plates and their space is filled with a gas other than air, the plates being in a vertical or inclined position and the lower edge of the plates being associated with a horizontal conveyor with an endless belt, the process according to the invention can be carried out with particular advantage as follows:

First, a first glass sheet is fed into the space between the two plates of the apparatus by temporarily driving the belt of the horizontal conveyor. The first glass sheet stands on the belt and abuts one of the two plates as it is fed into the gap between the two plates.

In the space between the two plates, the first glass sheet is positioned by stopping the drive of the belt in a position in which it still stands on the belt and abuts against one of the disks of the apparatus, which will hereafter be referred to as the "first" disk , This position is preferably chosen so that the front rising edge of the glass sheet is on the front upstanding edge of the sheets of the device or that the rear rising edge of the glass sheet is located at the rear edges of the sheets of the device and preferably flush with them. The "front" edge is understood to mean the front edge in relation to the conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor. Under the back edge of the respect understood the conveying direction of the horizontal conveyor rear edge of the glass sheet.

The upper run of the belt, or the horizontal conveyor, to which the belt belongs, can be pivoted about an axis parallel to its conveying direction from a first position, which is hereinafter referred to as its conveying position, into a second position, which is referred to below as its filling position becomes. In the conveying position, the upper run of the belt runs at right angles or approximately at right angles to the two plates of the device. This position is assumed by the horizontal conveyor when a glass sheet or a glass sheet arrangement or an assembled insulating glass pane is to be conveyed.

If the first glass sheet, as stated above, positioned in a predetermined position, the belt or the horizontal conveyor, to which the belt belongs, pivoted from its conveying position to the filling position, thereby raising the first glass sheet. She still stands on the belt and touches the first plate. Now, the first glass sheet is sucked to the first plate opposite the second plate, for which purpose the second plate is conveniently brought to rest on the glass sheet. In an apparatus for assembling insulating glass panes, plates provided with holes through which air can be sucked or blown are known. Alternatively, it would be possible, but more expensive, to provide in the second plate one or more suckers which are extendable out of the second plate so that they meet the first glass sheet, suck it, retract and thereby the first glass sheet to rest against the second Can bring plate. In any case, the first glass sheet after it has been sucked, to be removed from the first plate of the device and then this, lying adjacent to the second plate, opposite. Subsequently, the belt or the horizontal conveyor is pivoted back into its conveying position and the second glass sheet conveyed in the same way as the first glass sheet in the space between the two plates and positioned at the same location where the first glass panel was previously positioned. On the second glass sheet, a frame-shaped spacer is glued, which may be formed of a hollow profile made of metal or plastic or which may be extruded as a strand of thermoplastic material with a nozzle directly onto the second glass sheet.

When the second glass sheet is positioned, the belt or horizontal conveyor to which it belongs is pivoted from its conveying position to its filling position, thereby lifting the second glass sheet until it is opposite the first glass sheet.

Due to the fact that the horizontal conveyor is pivoted about an axis parallel to the conveying direction, its upper strand no longer lies at right angles to the plates of the device in the filling position, so that in the filling position the belt bears against the lower edge of the second glass sheet, but not the lower edge the first glass plate. Through the gap which exists between the lower edge of the first glass sheet and the belt, a gas different from air can now be introduced into the intermediate space between the two glass sheets and displace the air located there upwards. For this purpose, a chamber is to create, which contains the space between the two glass panels and is completed on three sides, namely forward, downward and backward. The conclusion to the front and to the rear can be achieved as in the prior art by movable seals which run parallel to the front and rear edges of the plates and one of which can be brought into contact with the front or rear edge of the plates to which the glass sheets are positioned, whereas the other gasket is inserted into the space between the sheets of the apparatus and positioned on the upstanding edges lying between the sheets or in the vicinity thereof. The two towering seals sit expediently on the upper run of the belt and extend up to a predetermined height upwards, expediently to the upper edge of the plates.

The sealing of the chamber downwards is preferably effected by the pivoting of the belt or the horizontal conveyor, which belongs to the belt, in its filling position. The fact that the second glass sheet when pivoting the belt in its filling position stands on this, along the lower edge of the second glass sheet is already a conclusion given, which is also tight when an impermeable material is selected for the belt or its upper side, which also suitable as a sealing material. The seal on the side of the second glass sheet can be supplemented by the fact that the belt in its filling position also bears tightly against the lower edge of the first plate of the device, which for this purpose preferably bears a seal extending in the conveying direction at its lower edge which may be an elastomeric tread, in particular a hollow profile, on which the belt or a belt supporting strip meets when it is pivoted to its filling position.

At the opposite first plate of the device is where the gap is, through which the gas other than air is to be introduced, also to ensure a closure of the chamber. For this purpose, the elongated nozzle used for the introduction of the gas or an elongated arrangement of a plurality of individually lockable nozzles expediently mounted close fitting at the bottom of the second plate and by the pivoting of the horizontal conveyor in its filling position the upper run of the belt in a tight system brought the bottom of the nozzle or the nozzle assembly. In this case, the sealing effect can be assisted by attaching to the underside of the nozzle or the nozzle arrangement a coating, cord or a hollow profile extending in the conveying direction from a material suitable for sealing purposes. Another advantageous possibility is to provide on the underside of the nozzle, or the nozzle assembly extending over the length of a flexible, resiliently yielding wall to which the belt is resiliently applied when Horizontal conveyor is pivoted to its filling position. This embodiment has advantages in the subsequent assembly of the insulating glass pane.

If the horizontal conveyor is in its filling position and the chamber enclosing the gap between the glass panels is closed on three sides, the gas different from air is introduced from below into the chamber through the nozzle or through the nozzle arrangement and displaces the air upwards out of the chamber , When the desired level is reached, the introduction of the gas other than air is stopped and the insulating glass panel is closed by reducing the distance between the two panels until the two sheets of glass bond together via the spacer. In this case, the insulating glass pane is pressed between the two plates of the device at the same time to a predetermined thickness. The second plate of the device no longer needs to hold the first glass sheet so that its suction can be stopped. The second plate is released from the first glass sheet, the horizontal conveyor lowered into its conveying position and the insulating glass disc, which stands on the belt and rests against the first plate of the device is conveyed away from the device. In this case, air can escape from openings which are provided in the first plate, which generates an air cushion between the first plate and the insulating glass pane, on which the insulating glass pane slides with little friction and at the same time is secured by the negative pressure prevailing in the air cushion.

The described embodiment of the method according to the invention and the device used therefor are characterized by simplicity, speed and high and uniform degrees of filling and allow the production of high-quality insulating glass panes at a lower cost than before.

The axis parallel to the conveying direction, about which the horizontal conveyor is pivotable, is preferably below the plate at which the gap for introducing the gas other than air is formed. This one can easily achieve that in the desired manner, the upper run of the belt in the region of the first glass sheet, along the lower edge of the filling should take place, is raised less than in the region of the second glass sheet, which should not lose contact with the belt in the filling position. To achieve this goal and a tight conclusion, it is particularly advantageous if the axis about which the horizontal conveyor can be pivoted with the belt, in turn about a second axis parallel to it is pivotable.

So that the belt can fulfill its conveying task and its sealing task well, its upper run should be supported over its length. This can be done by means of a dense sequence of rollers over which the belt passes. Preferably, a rail is used to support the upper run of the belt, which allows better support and better sealing at the bottom of the glass sheets.

In general, different lengths of insulating glass panes are successively assemble and fill with a heavy gas. Preferably, in the device according to the invention, therefore, a passage extending in the conveying direction and subdivided into separate sections is provided for the supply of heavy gas. The sections into which the channel is subdivided may be supplied separately with the gas, and each section of the channel communicates with one or more outlet openings associated only with it and located in the vicinity of the gap between the belt and the first glass panel. in particular on the underside of the relevant plate, which is adjacent to the gap. In operation of the device, the gas is supplied only to those portions of the channel whose outlet openings are all adjacent to the chamber to be filled.

As longitudinally extending seals are particularly hoses, for example, which can be compressed due to its own elasticity against a restoring force, but also such hoses, which are inflatable and retractable by evacuation.

Figur 1

zeigt eine Vorrichtung zum Zusammenbauen, Gasfüllen und Ver- pressen von Isolierglasscheiben in einer Ansicht rechtwinklig zur Förderrichtung,

Figur 2

zeigt als Detail den Schnitt A-A durch die Vorrichtung aus Figur 1 und die

Figuren 3 bis 10

zeigen einen Längsschnitt B-B durch Vorrichtung in Figur 1 in verschiedenen Phasen des Verfahrens zum Zusammenbauen, Gas- füllen und Verpressen von Isolierglasscheiben.

An embodiment of the invention is - partially schematically - shown in the accompanying drawings. The parts of the assembly apparatus which are generally referred to as a plate in the description are referred to in the description of the drawings as press plates, since they are also suitable for pressing the insulating glass panes.

FIG. 1

shows an apparatus for assembling, gas filling and pressing of insulating glass panes in a view at right angles to the conveying direction,

FIG. 2

shows in detail the section AA through the device FIG. 1 and the

FIGS. 3 to 10

show a longitudinal section BB through device in FIG. 1 at different stages of the process of assembling, gas filling and pressing of insulating glass panes.

The FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1 according to the invention, which on a frame 2 has two press plates 3 and 4, whose facing front sides are flat, while they are stiffened at their backs by a truss 5.

Below the lower edge of the press plates 3 and 4, a horizontal conveyor 6 is arranged, which consists of two consecutively arranged sections 6a and 6b. In each section 6a and 6b there are two rollers 8, one of which is driven and around which an endless belt 7 is tensioned. The rollers 7 are mounted in a horizontally extending support 9 and have axes 10 which extend at right angles to the flat front of the press plates 3 and 4. The carrier 9 extends over both sections 6a and 6b of the horizontal conveyor and is attached to the frame 2 by means of two pivoting devices 11. The structure and operation of the Swiveling devices 11 are based on the FIGS. 3 to 10 explained in more detail. To prevent sagging of the upper run of the belt 7, the upper run is supported. For this purpose, a support strip is provided on the carrier 9 for each of the two belts 7, over which the upper run of the belt 7 slides away. In the view according to FIG. 1 the support bar is covered by the carrier 9 and therefore not visible.

The press plates 3 and 4 are arranged parallel to each other and connected by four synchronously driven arrangements of a respective spindle and a spindle nut. By driving the spindles or the spindle nuts, one pressing plate 4 can be displaced parallel to itself and at right angles to the flat front side of the pressing plates 3 and 4 with respect to the other pressing plate 3. In this case, one of the press plates is arranged stationary, for example the press plate 3, which is referred to below as the first press plate.

The pressing plates 3 and 4 are inclined at an acute angle of, for example, 6 ° to the vertical, so that a glass plate 13 standing on the belt 7 can be leaned against one of the pressing plates 3, 4, conveniently against the stationary, first pressing plate 3 , wherein this is applied flat.

Both press plates 3 and 4 have openings 15, for example, holes which are arranged distributed over the press plates 3, 4 and through which by means of a blower, not shown, which is associated with the device 1, either air can be blown or sucked.

In order to assemble an insulating glass pane in the device 1, to be able to fill and compress it with a gas other than air, the device 1 can be installed in a production line which has one or more stations preceding the device 1 and one or more stations downstream of the device 1 , which also have a horizontal conveyor on which glass panels conveyed in the same altitude and with the same inclination as in the device 1 and assembled insulating glass can be removed from the device 1.

The movable pressure plate 4, hereinafter referred to as the second pressure plate is provided at its two lower corners with a suction device 16, the suction side is arranged in alignment with the flat front of the second pressure plate 4 and directed against the first pressure plate 3. The suction device 16 is in each case integrated into a triangular section 4a or 4b of the second pressure plate 4, which is preferably designated as a bending line 17 and the horizontal edge and the vertical edge of the second pressure plate 4 at an angle of 45 ° cuts, is pivotally mounted. The sections 4a and 4b with the integrated suction device 16 can by means of an actuator, for example by means of a hinged to the back of the second press plate 4 pressure cylinder, from a first position in which the front of the suction device 16 with the remaining front of the second press plate. 4 is aligned, and pivoted to a second position in which the triangular section 4a, 4b with the integrated suction device 16 about the bending line 14 a little way to the rear, that is pivoted away from the opposite first press plate 3. The suction device 16 may, for example, as in FIG. 2 schematically represented by a flat trough 18 may be formed with a triangular outline, which is located in the front of the second press plate 4. In the trough 18 opens a suction line 19 through which a negative pressure can be generated in the region of the trough 18 when the trough 18 is covered by a glass sheet 13. The trough 18 is surrounded by a seal 20, which is inserted into a groove 21 of the second press plate 4, on whose side it protrudes, as long as the first glass sheet 13 is not sucked.

At the two upstanding edges of the press plates 3 and 4, a sealing device 22 is provided in each case, which extends from the upper run of the belt 7 to extends to the upper edge of the press plates 3 and 4 and from an operative position in which it bridges and seals the bottom-up gap between the two press plates 3 and 4, as in FIG. 2 shown, can be moved to an inoperative position. In the inoperative position, the sealing device 22 releases the gap between the press plates 3 and 4, so that the glass sheets 13, 14 are conveyed into the intermediate space between the press plates 3 and 4 and an insulating glass pane assembled therefrom can be conveyed away. The sealing means 22 may be mounted on one of the two pressing plates 2, 3, preferably on the fixed pressing plate 3. Their inoperative position is not shown.

FIG. 2 shows an example of how such a sealing device 22 may be constructed: The illustrated sealing device 22 has a strip 23 with a U-profile, on which a sealing profile 24 is arranged on both sides and by means of a terminal block 25 on one or the other leg of the strip 23rd is attached.

In the FIGS. 3 to 10 the structure of the pivoting devices 11 is shown in more detail. On the two longitudinal sides of the carrier 9, a bearing 26, 27 is attached. A first lever 28 is pivotally connected at one end to the bearing 26 and articulated at its other end 26 a on the frame 2. A second lever 29 is pivotally connected at one end to the bearing 27 and hinged at its other end 29 a also on the frame 2. In this case, the point at which the end 26a of the lever 26 is articulated on the frame 2, higher than the point at which the end 29a of the lever 29 is hinged to the frame 2. The axes 41 and 42, about which the lever 29 and thus also the horizontal conveyor 6 is pivotable, are parallel to the conveying direction 37. The carrier 9, the lever 28 and 29 and the frame 2 form a four-bar linkage whose shape by means of a pressure medium cylinder 30 can be changed is, on the one hand articulated to the bearing 26, so that the bearing 26, the lever 28 and the pressure medium cylinder 30 have a common joint. The other end 30a the lever 30 is hinged to the frame 2. The pressure medium cylinder 30 is a short-stroke cylinder.

On the underside of the first press plate 3 there is a seal 31 extending in the transport direction 37, in which it is a hollow profile of an elastomeric material. On the underside of the second press plate 4, an elongated means 32 for supplying a gas other than air is attached. It consists of a cross-sectionally L-shaped strip 33 which rests with its longer leg close to the underside of the second press plate 4, whereas the shorter leg is directed downward. At the lower end of the shorter leg, a resilient plate 34 is fixed, which extends parallel to the long leg of the strip 33 over its length and width. Between the short leg of the strip 33 remote ends of the long leg and the resilient plate 34, a strip 35 is provided from a compressible, gas-permeable material and bonded to at least one of the two, ie either with the bar 33 or with the plate 34. The air-permeable material constituting the strip 35 may be, for example, an open cell foam or a loose felt. The strip 33, the plate 34 and the strip 35 define a channel 36, in which, for example, from a compressed gas cylinder, a gas other than air, in particular a heavy gas, for example argon, can be introduced.

With the illustrated device 1 can be worked as follows:

By means of the horizontal conveyor 6, a first glass sheet 13 is supported on the belt 7 and supported against the first press plate 3 in the conveying direction 37 in the space between the press plates 2 and 3, see FIG. 3 until it reaches the front edge of the first press plate 3 with its front edge. There she is shut down in a position which out FIG. 2 corresponding to a second glass panel 14 can be seen.

By pressing the pressure medium cylinder 30 of the horizontal conveyor 6 is now pivoted upwards in the in FIG. 4 shown position (the filling position). Now, the second pressing plate 4 is approximated by operating the spindle and spindle nut assemblies 12 of the first pressing plate 3 until it contacts the first glass plate 13. By means of the openings provided in the pressing plate 4 15, the glass sheet 13 is sucked and then the second press plate 4 away from the first press plate 3 again, taking with it the first glass sheet 13. Subsequently, by pressing the pressure medium cylinder 30 of the horizontal conveyor 6 is pivoted back into its conveying position, see FIG. 5 he also in FIG. 3 holds. The first glass sheet 13 now hangs at a distance from the belt 7 on the second press plate. 4

Now, a second glass sheet 14 is supported on the belt 7 and supported leaning against the first press plate 3 into the apparatus 1, see FIG. 6 , and positioned at the same place where the first glass sheet 13 was previously positioned. The second glass panel 14 carries on its side facing the first glass sheet 13 a frame-shaped spacer 38, which is formed in the example shown from a metallic hollow profile bar containing a desiccant 39. This spacer 38 is coated on its two flanks 13 and 14 facing the glass sheets with an adhesive sealant.

The second pressing plate 4 is now approximated to the first pressing plate 3, until there is only a small distance between the first glass plate 13 and the spacer 38, which is for example 2 mm, see FIG. 7 , Now, by pressing the pressure medium cylinder 30 of the horizontal conveyor 6 is swung up again in the in FIG. 8 shown position in which the second glass sheet 14 is raised by the same amount as before the first glass sheet 13, so that the two glass sheets 13, 14 now face each other congruent. This position of the horizontal conveyor 6, we call the filling position, because in this position, a gas other than air in the space between the two glass sheets 13 and 14 can be filled. In this Position is the upper run of the belt 7 of the seal 31, which is deformed by the transmitted from the belt 7 to the seal 31 pressure. In addition, the belt 7 presses in the filling position in the region of the porous strip 35 to the underside of the sheet 34, whereby the strip 35 is compressed, but a gap between the belt 7 and the lower edge of the first glass sheet 13 is maintained. By the action of the belt 7 on the seal 31, on the lower edge of the second glass sheet 14 and on the underside of the sheet 34, the gap between the glass sheets 13 and 14 is sealed towards the bottom.

At the front and rear edges of the press plates 3 and 4, the sealing means 22 are applied. This creates a chamber between the press plates 3 and 4, which includes the gap between the glass sheets 13 and 14 and three sides, namely forward, down and back is completed, wherein at the junction between the two sections 6a and 6b of the horizontal conveyor. 6 If necessary, an additional seal can be made, for example, by a insertable in the gusset between the two straps 7 fitting. Now, a gas other than air is supplied through the channel 36, which flows through the porous strip 35 and through the gap between the belt 7 and the lower edge of the first glass sheet 13 in the space between the two glass sheets or in the chamber enclosing it flows, wherein the strip 35 causes a homogenization of the flow. The gas other than air, which is generally heavier than air, displaces upward the air contained in the three-sided sealed chamber. Is a predetermined level reached, which can be controlled by a probe or calculated from the given dimensions of the insulating glass to be formed, then the second press plate 4 of the first press plate 3 is approximated to a distance which coincides with the predetermined thickness of the insulating glass to be formed , In this case, the second glass sheet 14 meets the adhesive sealant of the spacer 38, so that the Spacer 38 now glued to both glass panels 13 and 14, wherein the adhesive sealant is pressed.

So that no undesired overpressure is created by the pressing in the insulating glass pane, the first glass sheet 13 can be slightly bent outwards at its front lower corner before pressing the insulating glass pane, as is shown in FIG FIG. 2 is shown. For this purpose, the suction device 16 is first activated, which so firmly sucks the first glass sheet 13 in the region of its lower corner that thus the required bending force can be transmitted. Then, an actuator is activated, which bends the suction device 16 supporting portion 4a of the press plate 4 to the outside. The actuating member may be a pressure medium cylinder arranged on the outside of the pressing plate 4. If the portion 4a bent outwards so that the pressure plate 4 is approximated with its flat portion of the pressure plate 3 to the matching with the Dikke the insulating glass to be formed distance and thereby pressed the insulating glass, with the exception of the bent tip at the bottom corner of the first Glass panel 13. There, the insulating glass pane is still open, and as long as that is the case, a venting can take place during the compression of the insulating glass pane. Once this is done, the bending of the section 4a is reversed and the insulating glass also completely compressed in this section 4a. This state shows FIG. 9 ,

After pressing the insulating glass pane, the first glass sheet 13 on the second press plate 4 no longer needs to be held by suction. The suction is therefore terminated. Then, the second press plate 4 is removed from the first press plate 3 again and preferably at the same time the horizontal conveyor 6 is pivoted back by pressing the pressure medium cylinder 30 in its conveying position, as in FIG. 10 shown. The two glass sheets 13, 14, which are now joined together to form an insulating glass pane, are again at the level at which they are conveyed as individual glass sheets into the apparatus were. They are now - discharged to the insulating glass pane - discharged from the device 1.

The illustrated device 1 is not only suitable for assembling individual insulating glass panes to be filled and pressed with a gas other than air, but is also adapted to assemble two insulating glass panes simultaneously. It is therefore mirror-symmetrical with respect to its transverse to the conveying direction 37 center plane 40. Therefore, two insulating glass panes not longer than half the length of the press plates 3, 4 can be simultaneously assembled, filled with gas and pressed. For this purpose, the method described is expediently modified such that initially a first glass sheet for a first insulating glass pane is conveyed to the front edge of the press plates and a first glass sheet for a second insulating glass pane is subsequently conveyed into the device 1 and at the rear edge of the press plates 3, 4 is positioned as it is in FIG. 1 is shown. In order to enable this positioning independently of each other, the horizontal conveyor 6 is divided into the two sections 6a and 6b, which are separated according to choice and can be driven synchronously. When the first two glass sheets are positioned, they are sucked by the movable press plate 4. Subsequently, two provided with a spacer second glass panels are positioned accordingly in the manner described. All other processes take place simultaneously for the two insulating glass panes, as described in the example of a single insulating glass pane.

In order to keep the consumption of the gas other than air small, it is advisable not to flood the device along the entire length with the gas other than air, but in the vicinity of the lying in the device 1 vertical edges of the glass sheets 13, 14 separate sealing devices provide, which at the vertical edges or in the vicinity of the vertical edges of the glass sheets 13, 14 are effective. It can be, for example, seals act, which are advanced from the front of one of the pressing plates 3, 4 out to the opposite pressing plate and in this way in the space between the pressing plates 3, 4 partition off smaller chambers. To adapt to different lengths of glass sheets 13, 14 can be provided over the length of the press plates 3, 4 distributed more such extendable seals.

The means 32 for supplying the gas other than air, which extends over the length of the first pressure plate 4, is subdivided into individually closable sections at the locations where seals between the pressure plates 3, 4 can take effect, so that the introduction of the can be limited by gas other than air on the sealed off by gaskets chambers.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS:

1.

contraption

Second

frame

Third

first press plate

4th

second press plate

4a.

Section of 4

4b.

Section of 4

5th

truss

6th

Horizontal conveyor

6a.

1st section of 6

6b.

2nd section of 6

7th

belt

8th.

roll

9th

carrier

10th

Axles of 8

11th

Pivot means

12th

Arrangement of spindle and spindle nut

13th

first glass plate

14th

second glass panel

15th

Openings in 2, 3

16th

suction

17th

elastic line

18th

trough

19th

suction

20th

poetry

21st

Groove in 4

22nd

sealing device

23rd

strip

24th

weatherstrip

25th

terminal block

26th

camp

27th

camp

28th

first lever

28a.

End of 28

29th

second lever

29a.

End of 29

30th

Pressure cylinder

30a.

End of 30

31st

poetry

32nd

Device for supplying gas

33rd

strip

34th

sheet

35th

strip

36th

channel

37th

conveying direction

38th

spacer

39th

desiccant

40th

midplane

41st

first axis

42nd

second axis

Claims (33)

1. Method for the assembly of insulating glass panes that are filled with a gas different from air, comprising the steps of:

   - Arranging a first glass panel (13) and a second glass panel (14) provided with a spacer (38) in a vertical or inclined position so that they are placed one opposite the other without the first glass panel (13) getting into contact with the spacer (38);

   - forming a chamber that encloses the space between the glass panels (13, 14) by providing a belt (7) at the lower edge of the glass panel arrangement, which belt closes the chamber at its bottom, and by arranging adjacent each of the upright edges of the glass panel arrangement at least one sealing means (22) that extends from a point above the belt (7) down to the belt (7) for forming a front and a rear seal of the chamber;

   - introducing the gas different from air into the chamber from below and closing the insulating glass pane, by approaching the glass panels (13, 14) one to the other when a desired filling degree or filling level has been reached,

   characterized in that during introduction of the gas different from air one of the two glass panels (13) is held at a spacing from the belt (7) and
   the gas different from air is introduced into the chamber through a gap between the belt (7) and the lower edge of the glass panel (13) held at a spacing from the belt (7).
2. The method as defined in Claim 1, characterized in that the belt (7) is used as a conveying member of a horizontal conveyor (6).
3. The method as defined in Claim 2, characterized in that it is carried out between two aligned vertically arranged or inclined plates (3, 4), that can be varied with respect to their spacing one from the other, of a device for filling with gas and for assembling insulating glass panes in which the horizontal conveyor, using a belt (7) as a conveying member, is arranged near the lower edge of the plates (3, 4);
   that the glass panels (13, 14) are conveyed into the space between the plates (3, 4) standing on the belt (7) and leaning against one of the plates (3, 4);
   that the glass panels (13, 14) are positioned between the two plates (3, 4) one opposite the other; and
   that prior to delivering the gas different from air a spacing is produced between the belt (7) and the lower edge of one of the two glass panels (13).
4. The method as defined in Claim 3, characterized in that the chamber is delimited by the glass panels (13, 14), by the belt (7) and by at least two movable sealing means (22), that are spaced one from the other in the conveying direction, in that at least one of the sealing means (22) is placed before the arrangement comprising the glass panels (13, 14) and at least one of the sealing means (22) is placed behind the arrangement comprising the glass panels (13, 14).
5. The method as defined in Claim 3, characterized in that the chamber is delimited by the glass panels (13, 14), by the belt (7) and by two movable sealing means that are applied against the upright edges of the glass panels (13, 14).
6. The method as defined in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spacing between the lower edge of the first glass panel (13) and the belt (7) is produced by lifting said glass panel (13) off the belt (7).
7. The method as defined in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spacing between the lower edge of the one glass panel (13) and the belt (7) is produced by pivoting the belt (7) away from the lower edge of said one glass panel (13).
8. The method as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glass panels (13, 14) are placed in registration one opposite the other.
9. The method as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that prior to delivering the gas different from air the glass panels (13, 14) are placed in parallel one to the other.
10. The method as defined in any of Claims 3 to 9, characterized in that both glass panels (13, 14) are in surface contact with the plates (3, 4).
11. The method as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is the first glass panel (13) that is kept at a spacing from the belt (7) as the gas different from air is introduced.
12. The method as defined in Claim 11, characterized in that the gas different from air exits from a supply line (36) arranged at the bottom of the plate (4) on which the first glass panel (13) is held.
13. The method as defined in Claim 12, characterized by the steps of

    - conveying the first glass panel (13) into the space between the two plates (3, 4), by driving the belt (7) for a while;

    - positioning the first glass panel (13) in the space by stopping the drive of the belt (7) in a position in which the first glass panel (13) stands on the belt (7), leaning against one of the plates which will be described hereafter as the first plate (3);

    - pivoting the belt (7) about an axis (41) parallel to its conveying direction (37), from a position in which the upper run of the belt (7) extends at a right angle or approximately at a right angle to the two plates (3, 4) hereinafter referred to as the conveying position, whereby the first glass panel (13) is lifted;

    - sucking the first glass panel (13) to the second plate (4) positioned opposite the first plate (3) and removing the first glass panel (13) from the first plate (3) by increasing the spacing between the two plates (3, 4);

    - pivoting the belt (7) into its conveying position;

    - conveying the second glass panel (14), to which the spacer (38) is bonded, into the space by driving the belt (7) once more;

    - positioning the second glass panel (14) in a position opposite the first glass panel (13) in which the second glass panel (14) stands on the belt (7), leaning against the first plate (3), and its spacer (38) faces the first glass panel (13);

    - lifting the second glass panel (14) by pivoting the belt (7) from its conveying position into a position, hereinafter referred to as the filling position, in which the second glass panel (14) is placed in registration with the first glass panel (13) and opposite the latter, and in which a spacing exists between the lower edge of the first glass panel (13) and the upper run of the belt (7);

    - sealing a chamber which encloses the spacing between the glass panels (13, 14) toward the front, the bottom and the rear;

    - introducing the gas different from air into the chamber;

    - closing the insulating glass pane by reducing the spacing between the two glass panels (3, 4)

    - releasing the second plate (4) from the first glass panel (13) and pivoting the belt (7) into its conveying position;

    - conveying the insulating glass pane out of the device.
14. The method as defined in Claim 13, characterized in that the chamber is sealed by pivoting the belt (7) into its filling position.
15. The method as defined in Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the axis (41) about which the belt (7) is pivoted extends on that side of the belt (7) which is positioned below the second plate (4).
16. The method as defined in Claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that the axis (41) about which the belt (7) is pivoted, is in turn adapted to pivot about a second axis (42) extending in parallel to it.
17. The method as defined in any of Claims 3 to 16, characterized in that two pairs of glass panels are arranged one behind the other between the plates (3, 4) and are simultaneously filled with the gas different from air and are simultaneously connected to form insulating glass panes.
18. The method as defined in any of Claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the glass panels (13, 14) are positioned so that their forward upright edges extend at or near the forward edges of the two plates (3, 4) and/or that their rear upright edges extend at or near the rear edges of the two plates (3, 4).
19. The method as defined in any of Claims 2 to 18, characterized in that the upper run of the belt (6) is supported over its full length, especially by a ledge.
20. Device for the assembly of insulating glass panes that are filled with a gas different from air,
    having two plates (3, 4) arranged in vertical or inclined position, with a variable spacing between them;
    having a horizontal conveyor (6) provided near the lower edge of the plates (3, 4) and comprising a belt (7) as conveying member with a horizontal conveying direction (37);
    having at least two sealing means (22), extending from the upper run of the belt (7) to a point above the belt (7) and being spaced one from the other in the conveying direction of the belt (7), with at least one of the sealing means (22) acting between the two plates (3, 4);
    and means being provided on at least one of the plates (3, 4) for holding a glass panel (13, 14) on said plate (3, 4);
    characterized in that the belt (7) is pivotable about an axis (41) extending in parallel to the conveying direction (37), from a first position which it assumes for conveying, into a second position, and that an installation (32) for supplying the gas different from air is provided closely above the horizontal conveyor (6) and extend along the belt (7) in the conveying direction (37).
21. The device as defined in Claim 20, characterized in that the first position of the belt (7) is lower than the second position of the belt (7).
22. The device as defined in Claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the installation (32) for delivering the gas different from air is provided at the bottom of the plates (4).
23. The device as defined in Claim 22, characterized in that the installation (32) for delivering the gas different from air comprises a plurality of outlet openings.
24. The device as defined in any of Claims 20 to 23, characterized in that for supplying the gas different from air a channel (36) is provided, which extends in the conveying direction and which is subdivided into separate sections that can be shut off separately.
25. The device as defined in any of Claims 20 to 24, characterized in that a seal (31) extending in lengthwise direction is provided at least between one of the plates (3) and the belt (7) or a ledge supporting it, at the bottom of the plate (3).
26. The device as defined in any of Claims 20 to 25, characterized in that one of the plates (3) is provided in stationary arrangement.
27. The device as defined in any of Claims 20 to 26, characterized in that the upper run of the belt (7) is supported by a ledge over its full length.
28. The device as defined in Claim 27, characterized in that the ledge is gastight over its full length and is firmly connected with one of the plates (3, 4), especially with the stationary plate (3).
29. The device as defined in any of Claims 20 to 26, characterized in that the upper run of the belt (7) is supported over its full length by a ledge that projects laterally beyond the belt (7) and that carries a seal (21) on one side of the belt (7), which seal (21) is directed toward the opposite bottom of a plate (3).
30. The device as defined in any of Claims 25 to 29, characterized in that the seal (31) is a hose.
31. The device as defined in any of Claims 20 to 30 in combination with Claim 24, characterized in that seals extending from the bottom to the top can be advanced out of at least one of the plates (3, 4) against the opposite plate (3, 4) at those locations where the means (32) for delivering the gas different from air is subdivided into sections that can be shut off separately.
32. The device as defined in any of Claims 20 to 31, characterized in that the installation (32) for delivering the gas different from air comprises a channel (36) provided at the bottom of one of the plates (4);
    and that the channel (36) is provided at its bottom with an elastically flexible wall (34) that ends at the one or a plurality of outlet openings, respectively, of the installation (32) for delivering the gas different from air.
33. The device as defined in Claim 32, characterized in that the outlet opening(s) of the channel (36) are covered or filled with a material (35) permeable to air.

Images