METHOD FOR MAKING AN INSULATING GLASS

Abstract

A method for making an insulating glass consisting of at least a first glass plate, a second glass plate, and a central glass plate involves arranging a spacer on the first glass plate, coupling the first glass plate to the central glass plate to make a pre-assembled product, rotating the pre-assembled product by an angle of around 180 with respect to a substantially vertical axis, and arranging a spacer on the second glass plate. The method further involves coupling the second glass plate to the central glass plate of the pre-assembled product to make the insulating glass.

Claims

1. A method for making an insulating glass comprising at least a first glass plate, a second glass plate and a central glass plate; said method comprising steps of: arranging a spacer on the first glass plate; coupling the first glass plate with the central glass plate to make a pre-assembled product; rotating the pre-assembled product by an angle of around 180 with respect to a substantially vertical axis; arranging a spacer on the second glass plate; and coupling the second glass plate with the central glass plate of the pre-assembled product to make the insulating glass.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) of arranging a spacer on the first glass plate occurs in a module arranged provided with means for applying a spacer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (d) of arranging a spacer on the second glass plate occurs in the module provided with means for applying a spacer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the means for applying a spacer are adapted to distribute a thermoplastic spacer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) of arranging a spacer on the second glass plate is before and/or simultaneous with step (b) of coupling the first glass plate with the central glass plate to make the pre-assembled product.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step (c) in which the pre-assembled product in addition to the rotation by an angle of around 180 with respect to the substantially vertical axis of step, is also rotated according to an axis substantially parallel to an advancement direction of the glass plates, so that once the rotation of step (c) has been carried out, the pre-assembled product has a disposition substantially parallel to that of the second glass plate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) is carried out on a first press comprising a fixed plane and a movable plane and step (e) is carried out in a second press comprising a fixed plane and a movable plane.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein between the first press and the second press a rotating conveyor is arranged.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein in step the pre-assembled product is engaged by the movable plane of the second press.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) and step (e) are carried out on a first press comprising a fixed plane and a movable plane.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a rotating conveyor is placed after the first press with reference to an advancement direction of the glass plates.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a rotating conveyor is placed between a module provided with means for applying a spacer and the first press.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein in step (e) the pre-assembled product is engaged by the movable plane of the first press.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein before step (a) the central glass plate is conveyed inside the first press and is engaged by the movable plane of the first press.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more comprehensible from the following description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows the steps of a possible embodiment of a method for making an insulating glass;

[0021] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows the steps of a possible alternative embodiment of the steps of a method for making an insulating glass;

[0022] FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a top plan view of an apparatus carrying out the method schematized in FIG. 1; and

[0023] FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows a top plan view of an apparatus carrying out the method schematized in FIG. 2.

[0024] The elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described below will be indicated by the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a method for making an insulating glass 6 according to the present invention, comprising at least a first outer plate 2, a second outer plate 2, and a central plate 3.

[0026] The method essentially comprises the following steps: [0027] (a) arranging a spacer 4 on the first glass plate 2; [0028] (b) coupling the first glass plate to the central plate 3 to make a pre-assembled product 5; [0029] (c) rotating the pre-assembled product 5 by an angle of around 180 with respect to a substantially vertical axis; [0030] (d) arranging a spacer 4 on the second glass plate 2; and [0031] (e) coupling the second glass plate 2 to the central plate 3 of the pre-assembled product 5 to make the insulating glass 6.

[0032] In this disclosure, substantially vertical means an axis substantially parallel to the direction of the force of gravity, i.e., an axis substantially perpendicular to the lower disposition of the means supporting the plates.

[0033] It should also be noted that the glass plates in this type of applications are not exactly vertical, but they are inclined by a few degrees, conventionally 5-6 with respect to such a plane, so as to be easily translated.

[0034] The rotation of the pre-assembled product 5 allows arranging the spacer 4 on the second plate 2. Indeed, in the absence of the rotation of the pre-assembled product 5, the spacer 4 should be arranged on the central glass plate 3. If the central glass plate 3 is very thin (with a thickness of the order of one millimetre, even up to 0.5 mm), accordingly it is very deformable and could be subjected to stresses such as to compromise the integrity thereof.

[0035] In this case, the pre-assembled product 5 is only rotated to then be coupled to the second plate 2.

[0036] According to a possible embodiment, the step (a) of arranging a spacer 4 on the first glass plate 2 occurs in a module 14 for applying a spacer provided with means for applying a spacer. An embodiment of this type is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example.

[0037] Step (d) of arranging a spacer 4 on the second glass plate 2 can also occur in the same module 14.

[0038] According to a possible embodiment, the means for applying a spacer 16 of module 14 can be adapted to distribute a thermoplastic spacer 4, 4.

[0039] According to specific needs, the step (d) of arranging a spacer 4 on a second plate 2 can be prior to or simultaneous with step (b) of coupling the first glass plate to the central plate 3 to make a pre-assembled product 5. In alternative embodiments, step (d) can start before step (c) and end after the beginning of step (c), according to specific needs.

[0040] According to a possible embodiment, the method can comprise a step (c) in which the pre-assembled product 5, in addition to the rotation by an angle of around 180 with respect to a substantially vertical axis of step (c), is also rotated according to an axis substantially parallel to the advancement direction of the glass plates, so that once the rotation of step (c) has been carried out, the pre-assembled product 5 has a disposition substantially parallel to that of the second plate 2.

[0041] FIG. 3 exemplifies a system for making an insulating glass according to the method schematized in FIG. 1.

[0042] In a first step, a central plate 3 is conveyed into a first press 22 comprising a fixed plane 224 and a movable plane 222. The central plate is engaged by the movable plane 222 and spaced apart from the fixed plane 224.

[0043] The first plate 2 is advanced into module 14 in which the spacer is applied. In the drawing case, this is a module 14 comprising means 16 adapted to distribute a thermoplastic spacer. Such means 16 for distributing a thermoplastic spacer will not be further detailed because they are known per se to those skilled in the art.

[0044] After the step of applying the spacer 4 to the first plate 2, the first plate 2 is conveyed into the first press 22 and engaged by the movable plane 222 so that it can be coupled to the central plate 3 to create the product 5.

[0045] The product 5 is then transported to a rotating conveyor 26 adapted to rotate the pre-assembled product 5 by an angle of around 180 with respect to a substantially vertical axis.

[0046] According to a possible embodiment, the rotating conveyor 26 is adapted to incline the disposition of product 5 so that it is again parallel to the fixed plane 224 of press 22.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the product 5 is conveyed into a second press 24 to be engaged with a second plate 2.

[0048] The plate 2 is first conveyed into the module 14 for applying the spacer 4, for example a thermoplastic spacer.

[0049] Then, the plate 2 with spacer 4 applied passes through the first press 22 and the rotating conveyor to reach the second press 24.

[0050] In the second press 24, the second plate 2 with its own spacer 4 is positioned on the fixed plane 244 while the product 5 is engaged by the movable plane 242.

[0051] The press 24 then proceeds to coupling the second plate 2 with product 5.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment based on the diagrammatic depiction of the method in FIG. 2.

[0053] In a first step, a central plate 3 is conveyed into a first press 22 comprising a fixed plane 224 and a movable plane 222. The central plate is engaged by the movable plane 222 and spaced apart from the fixed plane 224.

[0054] The first plate 2 is advanced into module 14 in which the spacer is applied. In the drawing case, this is a module 14 comprising means 16 adapted to distribute a thermoplastic spacer. Such means 16 for distributing a thermoplastic spacer will not be further detailed because they are known per se to those skilled in the art.

[0055] After the step of applying the spacer 4 to the first plate 2, the first plate 2 is conveyed into the first press 22 and engaged by the movable plane 222 so that it can be coupled to the central plate 3 to create the product 5.

[0056] Product 5 is then transported to a rotating conveyor 26 adapted to rotate the pre-assembled product 5 by an angle of around 180 with respect to a substantially vertical axis.

[0057] According to a possible embodiment, the rotating conveyor 26 is adapted to incline the disposition of product 5 so that it is again parallel to the fixed plane 224 of press 22.

[0058] With reference to the advancement direction of the glass plates, the conveyor 26 can be positioned following the first press 22, as shown in FIG. 4, or be positioned between the module 14 for applying the spacer 4 and the first press 22.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 2, the product 5 is conveyed again into the first press 22 to be coupled with a second plate 2.

[0060] The plate 2 is first conveyed into the module 14 for applying the spacer 4, for example a thermoplastic spacer.

[0061] The plate 2 with the spacer 4 applied is then conveyed to the first press 22.

[0062] In the first press 22, the second plate 2 with its own spacer 4 is positioned on the fixed plane 224 while the product 5 is engaged by the movable plane 222.

[0063] The first press 22 then proceeds to coupling the second plate 2 with product 5.

[0064] Therefore, the advantages that can be achieved by the present invention are now apparent.

[0065] In particular, there is provided a method for making a triple glass which is more efficient than the methods of the prior art.

[0066] Moreover, there has been provided a method which allows keeping the cost of implementing a related apparatus and managing the materials required for applying the spacer, whatever the type is, low.

[0067] Again, the method of the present invention allows having a secure and efficient coupling also in the case of thin central plates.

[0068] Moreover, the method allows implementing a press of a type known per se and not of the V type mentioned at the beginning of the present disclosure.

[0069] In other words, there has been provided a method which, by virtue of the use of a particular sequence of apparatuses known per se and generally present in glassworks, allows making triple insulating glasses with a thin central plate.

[0070] In order to meet specific needs, those skilled in the art may make changes to the embodiments described above and/or replace the elements described with equivalent elements without departing from the scope of the appended claims.