Abstract: For sorting cut glass sheets (3) in accordance with arbitrary order criteria, rack-type carts (20) are provided exhibiting several racks (21) for the accommodation of cut glass sheets (3). The cut glass sheets (3) are righted by a lifting device into an essentially vertical position and then inserted by a conveyor arranged at the lifting device in the respectively desired rack (21) of the first rack-type cart (20). Each rack (21) exhibits on one side freely rotatable supporting rollers for the cut glass sheet. These supporting rollers can also be mounted to a holder adjustable relative to the rack-type cart (20). The rack-type carts (20) are displaceable (double arrow 30) so that the respectively desired rack (21) can be aligned with respect to the lifting device and/or the cut glass sheet (3) held by the latter.

Abstract: Apparatus for bending hollow profiles 3 into spacer frames for insulating glass panes, the hollow profile 3 being advanced by a gripper 2 displaceable along a conveyor 4. The magnitude of the stepwise advance of the hollow profile 3 corresponds to the lengths of the legs of the spacer frame to be made. A pickup 6 on the gripper 2 measures precisely each stepwise advance.

Abstract: A facility for the production of curved or arcuate insulating glass panes for vehicle windows comprises a station for the application of a spacer and a station for the application of a rope of sealing compound onto a glass pane. Furthermore, stations are provided for the assembly of the insulating glass pane and for pressing the insulating glass pane. The glass panes (3) are transported on supports (5) in exact alignment to the individual stations and are retained in the stations by the supports (5) by virtue of a vacuum. For this purpose, the supports (5) are equipped with a vacuum storage (75) connected via conduits (7) to bores (6) in the supports (5).

Abstract: The method relates to breaking glass sheets (5) with a line scored on one side, the glass sheet (5) being first raised at one end of the scored line and thereupon, in the remaining areas, it is progressively raised beginning with the initially lifted end. To carry out this breaking method, a breaking table (1) is provided of which the lifting strip (7) or roller can be raised on one side (I) first and then gradually lifted into the position II parallel to the table support surface (4). The glass sheet (5) is depressed on both sides of the lifting strip (7) or roller by suction heads (20) under partial vacuum or by boreholes (13) communicating with a source of partial vacuum.

Abstract: In order to bend a hollow profile strip (53), especially a hollow profile strip (53) from which a spacer frame for an insulating glass pane is to be produced, the hollow profile strip (53) is conducted continuously for an exactly defined length, held laterally and from the bottom, underneath a roller (70) and, subsequently to the roller (70), is deflected out of the conveying direction. An apparatus suitable for this purpose comprises a gripper (52) for the defined feeding of the hollow profile strip (53), a roller (70) in contact with the wall of the hollow profile strip (53), which is then located on the inside of the curvature, and holding down the hollow profile strip (53), and a lever (59) with a stop surface (62) for the hollow profile strip (53) subsequently to the roller (70).

Abstract: For filling the edge groove (26) of an insulating glass pane (1) of an arbitrarily designed outer contour with sealing compound, stored geometrical data of the outer contour of the insulating glass pane (1) are utilized for controlling the relative motion between the insulating glass pane (1) and the filling nozzle (4). The relative velocity of the relative motion between the insulating glass pane (1) and the filling nozzle (4) is varied in such a way that the desired extent of filling of the edge groove (26) remains constant even in case of a change in the depth of the edge groove and/or in case of fluctuating feeding rate of a sealing compound. Furthermore, the relative speed between the filling nozzle (4) and the insulating glass pane (1) is selected to be higher in the zone of linear or less strongly curved sections (6) of the edge groove (26) than in the zone of more strongly curved sections (5).

Abstract: During the bending of a hollow profile strip (53) into a spacer frame for insulating glass panes, the hollow profile strip (53) is advanced, by a gripper (52) displaceable in the feeding direction of the hollow profile strip (53) by predetermined distances, to such an extent that the location of the hollow profile strip (53) to be bent in a particular case is aligned with respect to a bending abutment (20). During the bending processes, performed with a bending lever (62), the hollow profile strip (53) is retained by the jaws (3, 4) of the bending head, and the gripper (52) moves back into its starting position. After the final advancement of the hollow profile strip (53), the latter is severed from the introduced hollow profile strip (53) and only then is the final bending step executed. The hollow profile strip (53) is constantly retained during the production of the spacer frame, either by the gripper (52) or by the jaws (3, 4) of the bending head.

Abstract: A bulk stream detector for a conduit (4, 5) feeding granular, hygroscopic material to be filled into spacer frames (3) for insulating glass from a storage container to a filling head (1) comprises a punctiform light source (8, 9) connected to the conduit (4, 5), this light source emitting a light beam (11) traversing the conduit. A sensor (10) responding to the light (11) emitted by the light source (8, 9) is arranged in opposition to the light source (8, 9). The sensor (10), under the effect of the light impinging thereon from the light source (8, 9), transmits a signal to a control unit (12, 13) which latter, in turn, transmits a signal if, during a preselected period of time after the last signal transmitted by the sensor (10), no signal has been received from the sensor (10).

Abstract: An apparatus for bending hollow profile strips (1) into spacer frames for insulating glass planes includes a clamp for the hollow profile strip, which clamp can be brought into contact with the lateral surfaces of the hollow profile strip (1), an abutment (20), about which the hollow profile strip (1) is bent, and a pivotable bending lever (50). The abutment (20) is exchangeably attached to a support (21) and can be moved into and out of its operative position by pivoting the support (21) about an axis perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the clamp (2) and by shifting the support (21) perpendicularly to the plane of symmetry of the clamp (2).

Abstract: For filling the inner space of an insulating glass panel (1) with argon, one glass pane is maintained at a distance from the spacer frame in the region of one corner (2) during pressing of the insulating glass panel (1), by holding this glass pane at a spacing from the spacer frame by pivoting of a portion (12) of the press plate (11), with the aid of suction cups (19, 20) provided at this portion (12). Through the thus-formed gap, a probe (4) for feeding argon and a probe (5) for exhausting air from the inner space of the insulating glass panel are introduced. The probe (4) blowing argon into the inner space is oriented in parallel to the lower horizontal leg of the insulating glass panel (1), and the other probe (5), exhausting air and/or air-argon mixture, exhibits an orifice pointing obliquely upwardly, i.e. away from the other probe (4).

Abstract: In the drying zone of a sheet glass washing machine, a pair of mutually opposed nozzles (10) is provided, the air outlet openings (11) of which face the glass sheet to be dried. At least one shutoff element (12) is associated with the air outlet opening (11) of each nozzle (10), this shutoff element, in its operative position, sealing off the top region of the air outlet opening (11). The shutoff element (12) extends over half the length of the air outlet opening (11) and has a cylindrical shutoff member (13) of an elastically yielding material which can be placed from the inside against the air outlet opening (11).

Abstract: In an apparatus for filling spacer frames for insulating glass with a hygroscopic material, a lateral support (1) is provided for the spacer frames, as well as an apparatus (1) for rotating the spacer frames by 90.degree., two charging stations (2, 3) for filling the spacer frames with a hygroscopic material wherein the charging heads (13, 14) are arranged at the top rim of the lateral support (11). Furthermore, a linear conveyor (17) extending through the apparatus along the bottom rim of the lateral support (11) is provided for the spacer frames. In order to lift the spacer frames into the region of the charging heads (13, 14), sections (18) of the linear conveyor (17), located in the region of the charging stations (2, 3), can be raised along the lateral support (11). Finally, a station (5) is provided for transferring the filled spacer frames to a suspension conveyor (6) which latter moves the spacer frames preferably transversely to the lateral support.

Abstract: A process for filling the edge joints of insulating glass by introducing a sealing compound into the edge joint from at least one filling nozzle moved along the edge joint. The depth of the edge joint is detected, and the velocity at which the filling nozzle is moved along the edge joint is slowed down in case of a deeper edge joint and increased in case of a less deep edge joint. The amount of sealing compound conveyed through the filling nozzle per unit time is detected, and the velocity with which the filling nozzle is moved along the edge joint is reduced in case of a reduced delivery output and increased in case of an increased delivery output.

Abstract: For the emplacement of spacer shims (21) on glass panes, especially insulating glass panes, an apparatus is disclosed with a storage reel for a strip (2) of cork or the like covered on one side with an adhesive coating, with a drive mechanism for the stepwise conveyance of the strip (2) to a cutting unit (20), with a pressure applicator, provided following the cutting unit (20) for spacer shims (21) cut to size from the strip (2). The suction cup (40) of the pressure-applying means can be advanced toward the surface (44) of a glass pane facing this suction cup and is furthermore freely movable in parallel to the conveying direction (45) of a glass pane to which spacer shims (21) are to be applied. Thus, spacer shims (21) can be attached to glass panes even during movement of the latter.

Abstract: In order to determine the spacing between the mutually facing inner surfaces (20, 28) of the glass sheets (1, 6) of insulating glass elements, and also the total thickness thereof, an apparatus for the assembly of insulating glass, with a conveying device (3) for a glass sheet (1) defining a reference plane (10) for one of the glass sheets (1) and with guide rollers (7, 8) defining a reference plane (11) for the second glass sheet (6), comprises tracer pins (12 and 13) which can be advanced perpendicularly to the reference plane (10, 11) into contact with the glass sheets (1, 6). Optionally electronic rulers (25, 26) are coupled with the tracer pins (12, 13), these rulers detecting the distance of the surfaces (20, 27), facing away from the reference planes (10, 11) of the one glass sheet and of the second glass sheet (1, 6).

Abstract: In an apparatus for the coating of spacer frames for insulating glass, exhibiting corners bent in one piece, with adhesive and, respectively, sealing compound, the relative position between the connecting line of the orifices of the nozzles, on the one hand, and the axis, about which the turning device is pivotable, on the other hand, can be varied. This variability is achieved either by arranging the pivotal support of the turning device to be movable laterally and vertically (upwards and downwards) in the frame of the apparatus, or by disposing the component carrying the nozzles in the frame of the apparatus to be vertically movable (upwards and downwards) and the pivotal support of the turning device to be movable laterally. In this way, the objective is attained that the nozzles remain aligned, even during turning of the spacer frames, in opposition to the lateral faces of the spacer frames.

Abstract: When filling hollow molds, to be bent into spacer frames, with a hygroscopic material, the filling process is interrupted as soon as the material filled into the hollow molding has reached a location of the hollow molding where the latter is to be bent into a corner. At this location, the wall of the hollow molding which subsequently forms the inside in the spacer frame is made to bulge. Then introduction of hygroscopic material into the hollow molding is continued, interrupted at the next location of a corner, the walls are made to bulge, until four locations of the sidewall in the hollow molding have been provided with a bulge, and the hollow molding is completely filled. Also, a device is described suitable for performing the process. This device comprises a stamp (16) for indenting the hollow molding and an ultrasonic sensor which responds to the filling level of the hygroscopic material in the hollow molding.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the breaking of glass sheets (2) scored on one side, especially provided with a metallic coating on one side, a breaking bar (7) or a rotationally driven breaking roller (28) that can be lifted from below against the glass sheet (2) are provided, and two abutments (9 and 10) acting from above against the glass sheet (2) are likewise included. The abutments (9 and 10) are not in physical contact with the topside of the glass sheet (2) but rather hold down the latter by an air cushion produced between these abutments and the topside of the glass sheet (2), this air cushion being formed by compressed air exiting from nozzles (14). In this way, friction movements that could damage the coating (3) of the glass sheet (2) during the breaking step are precluded.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating the marginal zone of glass sheets to which prefabricated spacer strips are to be applied includes a lateral support (1) for the glass sheets and a linear conveyor (2) provided at the lower rim of the support (1), constituted, for example, by a series of conveying rollers (3). Furthermore, two horizontally aligned, elongated heating elements (5, 6) associated with the horizontal marginal zones of the glass sheet are provided. One (5) of the horizontally aligned heating elements (5, 6) is arranged immediately above the linear conveyor (2), and the other one (6) is movable upwards and downwards (arrow 18) along the lateral support (1). Both horizontal heating elements (5, 6) are attached to supports (7, 8) pivotable about horizontal axes (9, 10) that the heating elements (5, 6) can be swung away from their operative position associated with the glass sheet.

Abstract: For filling insulating glass with a special gas, a probe (17) that can be introduced through an opening (25) in the spacer (26) for filling with the special gas, and a device (19) for sealing the opening(s) (25, 27) in the spacer (26) after completion of the filling process are arranged on a joint component (16) on the outlet side of a platen press (1, 2) for applying pressure to the glass plates of the insulating glass. The component (16) can be displaced from a readiness position wherein it is arranged below the conveying route (3, 13) for the insulating glass into a first operative position wherein the probe (17) is associated with the filling openings (25) in the spacer (26) and into a second operative position wherein the device for sealing the openings, which device preferably comprises filling nozzles (19) for feeding sealing compound (28) into the openings to be sealed, is associated with the openings (25, 27) in the spacer (26).