EP3133234B1 - Method and device for joining sheets of glass to form insulating glass panes - Google Patents

Description

The invention is based on a method and a device for assembling glass panels to form insulating glass panes, in which at least two glass panels are held at a distance from one another and glued together by a frame-shaped spacer running along their edges. The device contains a first and a second pressing plate, each with a pressing surface, and a pressing device assigned to the pressing plates for pressing an insulating glass pane that can be positioned between the pressing surfaces. The pressing surfaces are arranged facing one another on the upright pressing plates. Two upright glass panels are fed to the device. Before the glass panels are fed in, a frame-shaped spacer is glued along the edges of a glass panel, which keeps the two glass panels at a distance in the finished insulating glass pane. At least one of the pressing plates has means for holding a glass panel to its pressing surface. The distance between the pressing plates can be changed so that two glass panels with a spacer in between, can be pressed together by the pressing surfaces to form the insulating glass pane.

A method and a device of the type mentioned above are known from WO 03/014511 A1 known, wherein the means for holding a glass sheet to a pressing surface are formed by means for sucking the glass sheet onto the pressing plate. The known device has a stationary base frame on which one of the pressing plates is arranged so as to be displaceable perpendicular to the pressing surfaces, while the other pressing plate is immovably connected to the base frame. In order to change their distance and to press them against one another in the vicinity of their four corners, the pressing plates are connected by synchronously actuated adjustment and pressing devices which are designed as pressure cylinders or spindles. The movable pressing plate can not only be moved parallel to the fixed pressing plate, but can also be placed slightly inclined relative to it.

From the Italian Patent No. 1 141 769 A method and a device of the type mentioned at the beginning are known, wherein both pressing plates are arranged on the base frame so that they can be moved perpendicular to their pressing surfaces, so that their mutual distance can be changed by a driven adjustment device. A pressing device separate from the adjustment device is attached to one of the pressing plates and, after the two pressing plates have been moved together by the adjustment device, is coupled to the other pressing plate in order to press the two glass panels arranged between the pressing surfaces together with the spacer in between.

A similar device and method is also known from DE102004009860A1 known.

In addition, a method and a device of the type mentioned above are known from industrial applications, whereby two glass panels of different sizes are assembled to form an insulating glass pane. Insulating glass panes in which one glass panel is smaller than the other glass panel are also referred to as "stepped panes". Depending on the application, one of the glass panels can have smaller dimensions than the other glass panel in only one direction; then stepped insulating glass panes can be produced on one side or on two opposite sides. One of the Glass panels can also have smaller dimensions along their entire edge than the other glass panels; this allows insulating glass panes to be produced that are stepped on all sides, particularly on all four edges of a rectangular pane. Stepped panes are used, for example, for glazing building facades or conservatories in order to achieve an almost uninterrupted, continuous appearance on the outside of the glass surface made up of several panes. The larger glass panel of the insulating glass pane faces outwards and covers supports or holding devices that are arranged between the individual insulating glass panes.

In industrial plants for the production of large insulating glass panes, the glass panels or insulating glass panes are transported upright by horizontal conveyors through several stations of the plant, with their lower edge resting on the horizontal conveyor, for example on a belt or on rollers. Today, a transport line height has largely prevailed worldwide in which the horizontal conveyors transport the panes with their lower edge at a height of around 500 mm above the floor. Large insulating glass panes, for example, have a width of more than 2.3 m and a length of more than 5 m, but they can also be 3.3 m wide and 9 m long.

With the known devices, it is easy to produce stepped panes that have a step on up to three of their four edges. The fourth edge of the insulating glass pane is the lower edge with which the glass panels stand on the horizontal conveyor. It is not easy to create a step on this lower edge when assembling the glass panels using the known devices.

It is also known from industrial applications to arrange a lifting device for the glass panels at the lower edge of the press plates in an assembly device of the type mentioned above. These lifting devices can lift one of the glass panels that has been fed to a press plate and lift its lower edge off the horizontal conveyor so that it no longer rests on the horizontal conveyor. Using the known lifting devices, a smaller glass panel can be moved relative to the press plate and positioned in such a way that, after assembly, its edge runs within the edge of the larger glass panel and at a distance from the edge of the larger glass panel, so that the insulating glass pane is stepped on all sides.

Due to the transport path height of around 500 mm above the floor, the available installation space for the lifting device mentioned for lifting a glass panel, which is available between the floor and the lower edge of the press plates, is limited. This also limits the maximum achievable lift. The known short-stroke lifting devices enable the smaller glass panel to be lifted from the horizontal conveyor by around 100 mm. With the known devices, only four-stepped insulating glass panes can be produced in industrial production, which have a step of no more than around 100 mm on the lower edge. The invention is based on the object of creating an improved method and an improved device for assembling glass panels to form insulating glass panes that are stepped on all sides.

The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1, by a use of the device and a method having the features of claims 6 and 7. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

The invention relates to the assembly of glass panels to form insulating glass panes in a device which is in particular part of an industrial plant with several stations in which glass panels and insulating glass panes are transported upright and in a straight line through the stations of the plant. In particular, the glass panels and insulating glass panes are not exactly vertical, but are inclined by a few degrees, in particular 3° to 10°, from the vertical. A device according to the invention for assembling glass panels contains two upright pressing plates, each with a pressing surface. In the following, one of the two pressing plates is referred to as the "first pressing plate" and the other of the two as the "second pressing plate".

The pressing surfaces are arranged facing each other on the pressing plates, which are in particular upright. The pressing surfaces are essentially rectangular and flat and can in particular also be arranged parallel to each other. One of the pressing plates, in particular the second pressing plate, is slightly inclined relative to the vertical on its side facing away from the pressing surface, so that a glass panel leaning against its pressing surface does not tip over and remains standing on its own.

The invention further relates to a method for assembling glass panels to form insulating glass panes, in particular in an aforementioned device, in which a first glass panel is fed to the first pressing plate and placed on its pressing surface and in which a further glass panel is fed to the second pressing plate, in particular subsequently, and placed on its pressing surface. A frame-shaped spacer running along the edges of at least one of the glass panels, in particular the second and each further glass panel, is glued to it before it is fed to the respective pressing plate. One of the glass panels is smaller than the other glass panel so that a stepped insulating glass pane can be produced from it, in which the edge of the smaller glass panel runs within the edge of the larger glass panel and on all sides at a distance from the edge of the larger glass panel. Depending on the design, the smaller glass panel can be fed to the first pressing plate as the first glass panel or to the second pressing plate as a further glass panel.

At least one of the pressing plates has means for holding a glass panel on its pressing surface so that a glass panel placed on this pressing surface can be held there. The means for holding the glass panel on the pressing surface can be formed in particular by means for sucking the glass panel onto the pressing surface. The means for holding a glass panel on the pressing surface are assigned at least to the pressing plate to which the smaller glass panel is placed in order to hold it there. The pressing plate with the smaller glass panel held on it is then moved relative to the other pressing plate, and thus also relative to the larger glass panel lying there, so that the edge of the smaller glass panel is positioned within the edge of the larger glass panel to form an insulating glass pane with stepped edges on all sides. runs. The two pressing plates are arranged so as to be displaceable relative to one another in a first spatial direction and in a second spatial direction, in particular independently of one another in the spatial directions. One of the two pressing plates can be displaceable in the first and second spatial directions. However, both pressing plates can also be displaceable in one spatial direction or in both spatial directions. The first spatial direction runs transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the pressing surfaces of the pressing plates, i.e. approximately horizontally. The mutual distance between the pressing plates can be changed by displacing at least one of the pressing plates in the first spatial direction. The second spatial direction runs transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the first spatial direction and can run along one of the pressing surfaces, i.e. approximately vertically. The second spatial direction can run parallel to one of the pressing surfaces in particular.

During the displacement of the pressing plate with the smaller glass panel held on it in the second spatial direction, the pressing plates are kept at a distance from one another so that the frame-shaped spacer already glued to one glass panel does not touch the other glass panel. The pressing plates are in particular displaced parallel to one another in the second spatial direction. After this displacement of the pressing plate with the smaller glass panel held on it, when the smaller glass panel has reached the position required to form the steps along its edge in relation to the larger glass panel, the distance between the two pressing plates is reduced by displacing at least one of the two pressing plates so that the two glass panels with the spacer in between are joined together to form an insulating glass pane and pressed against one another. The device contains a pressing device assigned to the pressing plates for pressing the glass panels and the spacer or an insulating glass pane that can be positioned and/or joined between the pressing surfaces. The pressing plates can be connected by synchronously actuated adjusting devices in the vicinity of their four corners in order to change their mutual distance. These adjustment devices can be designed in a manner known per se and can simultaneously serve as a pressing device for pressing the two pressing plates against each other. The pressing device can be used with both pressing plates However, a pressing device can also be provided which is separate from the adjustment device for changing the distance, which can be coupled to the pressing plates and which is only coupled to the pressing plates during the pressing process.

After the pressing process, the means for holding the smaller glass panel are released and its attachment to the pressing surface is terminated. The mutual distance between the two pressing plates is then increased again. The assembled insulating glass pane is then transported out of the device, in particular transversely to the first spatial direction and transversely to the second spatial direction. The insulating glass pane transported out of the assembly station can be fed to a sealing station arranged downstream in the system, in which a gap between the two glass panels outside the frame-shaped spacer is sealed with a gas-tight and in particular water vapor-impermeable sealing compound.

• Die vorliegende Erfindung ermöglicht eine industrielle Herstellung von Stufenscheiben mit einer großen Stufe von über 200 mm, insbesondere von über 300 mm, entlang des gesamten Randes, insbesondere an der Unterkante, einer Isolierglasscheibe. Insbesondere lassen sich mit der Erfindung auch Stufen von 400 mm oder 500 mm herstellen.
• Die Höhe des Waagerechtförderers über dem Fußboden bei der Transportstrecke, welche die Glastafeln in die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung hineintransportiert, wird nicht vergrößert. Auch bei dem Waagerechtförderer, welcher die zusammengebauten Isolierglasscheiben aus der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung abtransportiert und auf welchem die Unterkante der größeren Glastafel aufsteht, braucht die Höhe über dem Fußboden nicht vergrößert werden. Damit lässt sich eine erfindungsgemäße Zusammenbau-Vorrichtung auch im Rahmen von Modernisierungsmaßnahmen ohne großen Aufwand in bestehende Anlagen zur Herstellung von Isolierglasscheiben integrieren.
• Insbesondere bei der Herstellung großer Isolierglasscheiben lässt sich durch die etwa vertikale Verschiebung einer der Pressplatten die daran festgehaltene Glastafel sehr einfach und sicher über die notwendige große Strecke von beispielsweise 200 mm bis 500 mm verschieben. Während der Verschiebebewegung ist keine unkontrollierte Bewegung der Glastafel möglich, da sie an der bewegten Pressplatte festgehalten wird und durch deren Pressfläche vollflächig gehalten und gestützt wird. Die Pressplatte mit der daran gehaltenen Glastafel kann deshalb auch relativ stark beschleunigt und wieder abgebremst werden, ohne dass Schäden an der Glastafel zu befürchten sind. Hierdurch lässt sich der notwendige große Verschiebeweg in kurzer Zeit zurücklegen, so dass sich durch die Erfindung eine geringe Taktzeit für das Zusammenbauen einer Isolierglasscheibe erreichen lässt.
• Die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung eignet sich insbesondere auch zum Zusammenbauen von mehr als zwei Glastafeln zu einer Isolierglasscheibe, insbesondere von drei Glastafeln zu den heute vielfach verwendeten Dreifach-Isolierglasscheiben.

The invention has significant advantages:

• The present invention enables industrial production of stepped panes with a large step of more than 200 mm, in particular more than 300 mm, along the entire edge, in particular on the lower edge, of an insulating glass pane. In particular, the invention also allows steps of 400 mm or 500 mm to be produced.
• The height of the horizontal conveyor above the floor on the transport path that transports the glass panels into the device according to the invention is not increased. The height above the floor of the horizontal conveyor that transports the assembled insulating glass panes out of the device according to the invention and on which the lower edge of the larger glass panel rests does not need to be increased either. This means that an assembly device according to the invention can be integrated into existing systems for producing insulating glass panes without great effort, even as part of modernization measures.
• Particularly when producing large insulating glass panes, the glass panel held on it can be moved very easily and safely over the necessary long distance of, for example, 200 mm to 500 mm by moving one of the pressing plates approximately vertically. During the displacement movement, no uncontrolled movement of the glass panel is possible because it is held on the moving pressing plate and is held and supported over its entire surface by its pressing surface. The pressing plate with the glass panel held on it can therefore be accelerated and braked again relatively strongly without fear of damage to the glass panel. This means that the necessary long displacement distance can be covered in a short time, so that the invention enables a short cycle time for assembling an insulating glass pane.
• The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for assembling more than two glass panels to form an insulating glass pane, in particular three glass panels to form the triple insulating glass panes that are widely used today.

To produce a triple insulating glass pane, three glass panels are joined together with two frame-shaped spacers between them and pressed against each other. In addition to the smaller glass panel and the larger glass panel in accordance with the invention, a third glass panel is used, which is not necessarily fed in last and is therefore referred to below as an "additional glass panel". Before the additional glass panel is fed in, a frame-shaped spacer running along its edges, which is referred to below as an "additional spacer", can be glued on. The shape and size of the additional glass panel is basically arbitrary, but can in particular match the shape and size of the smaller glass panel, although the thicknesses of the glass panels can certainly differ. The order in which the three glass panels are fed to the device containing the press plates can be chosen differently. In particular, the order "larger glass panel - smaller glass panel - additional glass panel" or "smaller glass panel - additional glass panel - larger glass panel" can be provided. The additional glass panel can in particular be fed in after the smaller glass panel.

In an embodiment of the invention, the device can have a stationary base frame, which is in particular fixed and can be screwed to the floor. The two press plates are arranged on the base frame, with at least one of the press plates being arranged displaceably on the base frame. The device can contain a drive device coupled to the displaceable press plate. The drive device can be connected to a control device contained in the device or can be connected to a control unit assigned to the device. The first press plate can be arranged displaceably on the base frame in the first spatial direction and the second press plate can be arranged displaceably on the base frame in the second spatial direction. Alternatively, the first press plate can be arranged displaceably on the base frame in both spatial directions and the second press plate can be immovably connected to the base frame.

The device contains at least one carrier and a guide rail, via which one of the pressing plates is arranged on the carrier so as to be displaceable in the second spatial direction, in particular on a section of the carrier which runs straight and parallel to a pressing surface. The guide rail can run parallel to one of the pressing surfaces. The carrier can be arranged on the base frame so as to be displaceable in the first spatial direction, in particular if the first pressing plate is arranged on the carrier so as to be displaceable in the second spatial direction and the second pressing plate is immovably connected to the base frame. The carrier can be immovably connected to the base frame, in particular if the second pressing plate is arranged on the carrier so as to be displaceable in the second spatial direction and the first pressing plate is arranged on the base frame so as to be displaceable in the first spatial direction. The carrier can be coupled to the pressing device.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the second pressing plate is arranged at a slight incline to the vertical in such a way that a glass panel placed on its pressing surface stops of its own accord. In this case, the first glass panel is first fed to the second pressing plate. The first glass panel is then fed to the first press plate by reducing the distance between the two press plates. The distance between the two press plates is reduced so much that the pressing surface of the first press plate touches the first glass panel. The means arranged on the first press plate for holding the glass panel are then activated and the first glass panel is held on the pressing surface of the first press plate. The first press plate is then moved away from the second press plate in the first spatial direction so that the mutual distance between the two press plates increases. The further glass panel is then fed to the second press plate. The glass panels can be fed to the second press plate by transporting the glass panels in a direction running transversely to the first spatial direction and transversely to the second spatial direction, in particular in a horizontal transport direction. During transport, the glass panels can be oriented parallel to the pressing surface of the second press plate.

In an embodiment of the method, the larger glass panel can be fed as the first glass panel to the first pressing plate, placed on its pressing surface and held there. The first pressing plate with the larger glass panel held on to it can be moved in a first spatial direction so that the mutual distance between the two pressing plates increases. The smaller glass panel can be fed as another glass panel to the second pressing plate, placed on its pressing surface and held there. The second pressing plate with the smaller glass panel held on to it can be moved relative to the first pressing plate in the second spatial direction. After the pressing process, the holding of the larger glass panel to the pressing surface can also be stopped before the mutual distance between the two pressing plates is increased again.

To produce a triple insulating glass pane, an additional glass panel can be connected to the smaller glass panel or the larger glass panel by inserting a frame-shaped additional spacer, so that after joining the smaller glass panel, the larger glass panel and the additional glass panel, a triple insulating glass pane is formed. In this case - after the pressing process of the larger glass panel with the smaller glass panel - the smaller glass panel can be held on the pressing surface of the second pressing plate can be ended while the larger glass panel continues to be held on the first press plate. The first press plate with the larger glass panel held on it and the smaller glass panel joined to it can be moved in the first spatial direction so that the mutual distance between the two press plates increases and the smaller glass panel moves away from the pressing surface of the second press plate. The second press plate can then be moved relative to the first press plate without the glass panel held on it in the opposite direction to the second spatial direction. The additional glass panel can then be fed to the second press plate, placed on its pressing surface and held there. The second press plate with the additional glass panel held on it can be moved relative to the first press plate in the second spatial direction, in particular until the height position of the additional glass panel matches that of the smaller glass panel. By moving the first press plate with the larger glass panel held on it and the smaller glass panel joined to it in the opposite direction to the first spatial direction, another pressing process can then be carried out with the additional glass panel held on the second press plate. After the further pressing process, the holding of the larger glass panel and the additional glass panel on the respective pressing surface can be stopped before the mutual distance between the two pressing plates is increased again and the triple insulating glass pane is removed from the device.

In another embodiment of the method, the smaller glass panel can be fed as the first glass panel to the first pressing plate, placed on its pressing surface and held there. The larger glass panel can be fed as another glass panel to the second pressing plate and placed on its pressing surface. The first pressing plate with the smaller glass panel held on it can be moved in the first and second spatial directions, while the second pressing plate with the larger glass panel resting on it is held immobile.

To produce an insulating glass pane from three glass panels, an additional glass panel can be connected to the smaller glass panel by inserting a frame-shaped additional spacer, so that after the By joining the smaller glass panel and the additional glass panel with the larger glass panel, a triple insulating glass pane is formed. In this case, before the larger glass panel is fed to the second press plate, the additional glass panel can be fed to the second press plate and placed on its pressing surface. The first press plate with the smaller glass panel held thereon can be moved against the first spatial direction in order to carry out a pressing process with the additional glass panel and to connect the smaller glass panel to the additional glass panel. The first press plate with the smaller glass panel still held thereon and the additional glass panel connected to it can then be moved in the first spatial direction so that the mutual distance between the two press plates increases and the additional glass panel moves away from the pressing surface of the second press plate. The larger glass panel can then be fed to the second press plate and placed on its pressing surface. The first press plate with the smaller glass panel held thereon and the additional glass panel connected to it can be moved in the second spatial direction. Then, by moving the first pressing plate with the smaller glass panel held on it and the additional glass panel connected to it in the opposite direction to the first spatial direction, another pressing process is carried out with the larger glass panel. After the further pressing process, the holding of the smaller glass panel on the pressing surface can be stopped before the mutual distance between the two pressing plates is increased again and the triple insulating glass pane is removed from the device.

The device has a horizontal conveyor arranged near the lower edge of one of the pressing plates, in particular the second pressing plate, for conveying upright glass panels, which has a conveying direction running along the lower edge of this pressing plate, i.e. horizontally. The conveying direction runs transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the first spatial direction and transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the second spatial direction. According to the invention, the device has a displaceable in the first and second spatial directions. Support device for supporting a lower edge of at least one glass panel. The support device is the one in the second spatial direction displaceable press plate. The distance of the support device to the pressing surface of the other press plate and to the horizontal conveyor can be changed, in particular by a drive device. The support device can be attached to the press plate which can be displaced in the second spatial direction. The support device can contain at least one roller and/or one belt. The support device serves to support the smaller glass panel and/or any additional glass panel that may be present, in particular when the assembled insulating glass pane is transported away from the device and the smaller glass panel and/or the additional glass panel can no longer stand up on the horizontal conveyor with its lower edge. The support device can be necessary in particular if the smaller glass panel and/or an additional glass panel has a relatively high dead weight, so that the adhesive connections between the frame-shaped spacer and the glass panels are not strong enough after the pressing process to hold the weight of the smaller glass panel and/or the additional glass panel.

Further advantages and features emerge from the following description of some embodiments in conjunction with the schematic figures.

Figur 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit zwei relativ zueinander verschiebbaren Pressplatten,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung der Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des unteren Bereichs der Figur 2,

Figur 4

eine Ansicht entsprechend Figur 3, wobei die erste Pressplatte im Vergleich zur Darstellung der Figur 3 nach oben verschoben wurde,

Figur 5

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des unteren Bereichs der Figur 1,

Figur 6

eine Ansicht entsprechend Figur 5, wobei die erste Pressplatte im Vergleich zur Darstellung der Figur 5 nach oben verschoben wurde,

Figur 7

eine Seitenansicht entsprechend Figur 1 auf eine Variante einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Figur 8

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung der Figur 7,

Figur 9

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des unteren Bereichs der Figur 8,

Figur 10

eine Ansicht entsprechend Figur 9, wobei die zweite Pressplatte im Vergleich zur Darstellung der Figur 9 nach oben verschoben wurde,

Figur 11

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des unteren Bereichs der Figur 7,

Figur 12

eine Darstellung entsprechend Figur 11, wobei die zweite Pressplatte im Vergleich zur Darstellung der Figur 11 nach oben verschoben wurde.

They show:

Figure 1

a schematic side view of a device according to the invention with two pressing plates that can be moved relative to each other,

Figure 2

a perspective view of the device of the Figure 1 ,

Figure 3

an enlarged view of the lower part of the Figure 2 ,

Figure 4

a view according to Figure 3 , whereby the first press plate compared to the representation of the Figure 3 was moved up,

Figure 5

an enlarged view of the lower part of the Figure 1 ,

Figure 6

a view according to Figure 5 , whereby the first press plate compared to the representation of the Figure 5 was moved up,

Figure 7

a side view according to Figure 1 to a variant of a device according to the invention,

Figure 8

a perspective view of the device of the Figure 7 ,

Figure 9

an enlarged view of the lower part of the Figure 8 ,

Figure 10

a view according to Figure 9 , whereby the second press plate compared to the representation of the Figure 9 was moved up,

Figure 11

an enlarged view of the lower part of the Figure 7 ,

Figure 12

a representation according to Figure 11 , whereby the second press plate compared to the representation of the Figure 11 was moved up.

In the Figures 1 to 6 A first embodiment of a device 1 for assembling a spacer 2 and glass panels 3, 4 to form insulating glass panes is shown. The insulating glass pane is formed by a first glass panel 3 and a second glass panel 4 as well as by a frame-shaped spacer 2 running along the edges of the glass panels 3, 4. The spacer 2 keeps the two glass panels 3, 4 at a distance from each other in a manner known per se and is glued to them. In the Figures 6 and 7 the two glass panels 3 and 4 are shown with the spacer 2 arranged between them. The device 1 contains a first pressing plate 5 with a pressing surface 7 and a second pressing plate 6 with a pressing surface 8. The two pressing plates 5, 6 are arranged upright in the device 1. The device contains a stationary base frame 9, which is arranged fixedly on the floor and can be screwed to it. The first pressing plate 5 is displaceable on the base frame 9 essentially horizontally in a first spatial direction A and essentially vertically in a second spatial direction B. arranged. The second press plate 6 is immovably connected to the base frame 9. As a result, the two press plates 5, 6 can be moved relative to one another in both spatial directions A and B. The two press surfaces 7 and 8 face one another and are arranged parallel to one another. The first spatial direction A runs perpendicular to the press surfaces 7, 8, so that the mutual distance between the two press plates 5 and 6 can be changed by moving the first press plate 5 in the first spatial direction A.

Two supports 10 are provided, each of which is arranged on the base frame 9 so as to be displaceable in the first spatial direction A via a guide rail 11. The supports 10 have straight sections which run parallel to one another and parallel to the pressing surface 7. The first pressing plate 5 is arranged so as to be displaceable in the second spatial direction B on the sections of the supports 10 which run parallel to the pressing surface 7 via guide rails 12 which run parallel to the pressing surface 7. The guide rails 11, 12 are linear guides known per se. A drive device 13 with a drive motor 15 is provided in order to displace the supports 10 in the first spatial direction A. Each support 10 is coupled to two spindles 17. The spindles 17 are also coupled to the fixed pressing plate 6 and can be adjusted synchronously via a drive belt 19 which runs from the drive motor 15 over all four spindles 17. The drive device 13 simultaneously forms a pressing device for pressing the two pressing plates 5, 6 against each other. Such a displacement and pressing device 13 is known per se. In order to move the first pressing plate 5 in the second spatial direction B, a drive device 14 is provided which has a drive motor 16 and spindles 18 coupled to it via shafts 20, which are each supported on the carrier 10 and can lift the first pressing plate 5 in the direction B, see in particular Figure 4 .

The device 1 contains a horizontal conveyor 30, which can be designed in a manner known per se as a roller conveyor or belt conveyor. In the figures, a roller conveyor 30 with several rollers 31 is indicated, at least some of which can be driven in order to transport the glass panels 3, 4 or the insulating glass pane formed therefrom upright on their lower edge 32 horizontally in Conveying direction C. Conveying direction C runs perpendicular to spatial direction A and perpendicular to spatial direction B. Assembly device 1 is part of a system (not shown) for producing insulating glass panes, which contains several stations for carrying out different operations. In conveying direction C upstream of assembly station 1, for example, a washing device for the glass panels 3, 4 is arranged. In conveying direction C downstream of assembly station 1, a sealing device for sealing the gap 33 between the two glass panels 3, 4 is arranged, which fills the gap 33 with a water vapor-impermeable sealing compound, which then also ensures the secure bond between the two glass panels 3, 4. So that the glass panels 3, 4 transported upright on the horizontal conveyor 30 do not fall over during transport, they are not transported exactly vertically, but slightly inclined, in a manner known per se. The second pressing plate 6 is inclined by 6° from the vertical in the direction away from its pressing surface 8, see in particular Figure 1 , so that a glass panel leaning against it does not fall over by itself. The glass panels 3, 4 are parallel to the pressing surface 8 on the horizontal conveyor 30 and are transported in the conveying direction C. During transport on the horizontal conveyor 30, the glass panels 3, 4 are supported in a manner known per se, for example by support rollers (not shown) assigned to the second pressing plate 6 or by an air cushion formed on the second pressing surface 8.

When assembling an insulating glass pane with the Figures 1 to 6 The procedure for the device 1 shown is as follows: The first glass panel 3 is transported upright on its lower edge 32 on the rollers 31 of the horizontal conveyor 30 in the conveying direction C into the device 1. When the first glass panel 3 has reached its desired position in the conveying direction C, the horizontal conveyor 30 is stopped. The glass panel 3 initially stands on the rollers 31 and leans against the pressing surface 8 of the second pressing plate 6. In the area of the horizontal conveyor 30, a short-stroke lifting device (not shown but known per se) is arranged, which engages the lower edge 32 of the glass panel 3 and lifts the glass panel 3 a little in the direction B relative to the pressing plate 6, so that it is completely in the The carrier 10 is arranged in the gap between the two pressing surfaces 7, 8 and no longer rests on the rollers 31. The carrier 10 with the first pressing plate 5 moved downwards against the second spatial direction B is now moved by the drive device 13 with the pressing surface 7 up to the first glass panel 3 leaning against the second pressing plate 6. The pressing surface 7 of the first pressing plate 5 contains, in a manner not shown but known per se, means for sucking the glass panel 3, which comprise several openings distributed on the pressing surface 7, which can be subjected to negative pressure. The first glass panel 3 is thus held on the pressing surface 7. The drive device 13 is then actuated again and the first pressing plate 5 is moved away from the second pressing plate 6 in the first spatial direction A. In the meantime, the further glass panel 4 has already been prepared in the conveying direction C upstream of the device 1 in a manner known per se and a frame-shaped spacer 2 has been glued on. The further glass panel 4 is larger than the first glass panel 3 and is now transported in the conveying direction C with the glued-on spacer 2 by the horizontal conveyor 30 into the device 1. The horizontal conveyor 30 is then stopped when the further glass panel 4 has reached its desired position in the conveying direction C. The further, larger glass panel 4 is transported with its front edge somewhat further in the conveying direction C than the first, smaller glass panel 3, so that the glass panel 4 protrudes over the smaller glass panel both with its front edge in the conveying direction C and with its rear edge in the conveying direction C. The larger glass panel 4 is then also lifted slightly off the horizontal conveyor 30 by means of the short-stroke lifting device (not shown), see the Figure 5 The first pressing plate 5 with the smaller glass panel 3 held on it is moved upwards in the second spatial direction B by the drive device 14, see Figure 6 , so that the lower edge 32 of the smaller glass panel 3 also lies within the edge of the larger glass panel 4. Then the drive device 13 is actuated to reduce the distance between the two pressing plates 5, 6 and to place the smaller glass panel 3 on the spacer 2 sitting on the larger glass panel 4 and to press the two glass panels 3, 4 together with the spacer 2 lying between them. After pressing together, the drive device 13 is actuated in the opposite direction and the first pressing plate 5 is in The second pressing plate 6 is moved away in the direction A after the glass panel 3 has been held on the pressing surface 7 by switching off the negative pressure. The two glass panels 3, 4 and the spacer 2 are thus assembled to form an insulating glass pane that is stepped on all sides, in which the larger glass panel 4 is stepped on all edges in the Figure 6 protrudes over the edges of the smaller glass panel 3 as shown. Finally, the insulating glass pane is lowered again by the short-stroke lifting device (not shown) so that the lower edge 32 of the larger glass panel 4 comes to rest on the rollers 31 again. The insulating glass pane is then transported out of the device 1 by the horizontal conveyor 30 in the conveying direction C.

If in the Figures 1 to 6 In a modification not shown, a stepped triple insulating glass pane is produced, an additional glass panel is prepared in a manner known per se before the larger glass panel 4 is fed in and a frame-shaped additional spacer is glued onto it. The additional glass panel is the same size as the smaller glass panel 3 and is transported in the conveying direction C with the additional spacer glued on by the horizontal conveyor 30 into the device 1 until the additional glass panel with its front edge is congruent with the smaller glass panel 3 on the pressing surface 8 of the second pressing plate 6. The additional glass panel is then lifted slightly from the horizontal conveyor by means of the short-stroke lifting device (not shown) until the lower edge of the additional glass panel is also congruent with the smaller glass panel 3 held on the pressing surface 7. The drive device 13 is then actuated to move the first pressing plate 5 against the first spatial direction A and to press the smaller glass panel 3 with the additional glass panel. After pressing together, the drive device 13 is actuated in the opposite direction and the first pressing plate is moved in direction A away from the second pressing plate 6. The additional glass panel is connected to the smaller glass panel still held on the first pressing plate and moves away from the pressing surface 8. Now the larger glass panel 4 with the glued-on spacer 2 is transported in the conveying direction C by the horizontal conveyor 30 into the device 1 and the further process is continued as described above for the double insulating glass pane consisting of the glass panels 3, 4.

The Figures 7 to 12 The variant 1 shown is constructed similarly to the previously described device 1. As shown in the Figures 11 and 12 recognizable, however, the step along the edges of the two glass panels 3', 4' is formed in the opposite orientation, since the first glass panel 3' is larger than the other glass panel 4'. In the device 1', the first pressing plate 5' is arranged on the base frame 9 so that it can be moved in the first spatial direction A via guide rails 11. In turn, a drive device 13 acting as an adjustment and pressing device with a drive motor 15 and four spindles 17 is provided, which can be driven via a rotating belt 19 and can move the first pressing plate 5' along the first spatial direction A and press it against the second pressing plate 6'. Two supports 10' are immovably connected to the base frame 9. The second pressing plate 6' is arranged via guide rails 12 on sections of the supports 10' running parallel to its pressing surface 8. The spindles 17 are coupled both to the first pressing plate 5' and to the supports 10'. A drive device 14 is provided for moving the second press plate 6' in the second spatial direction B, which in turn contains a drive motor 16 and spindles 18, which are coupled to the drive motor 16 via shafts 20. The spindles 18 allow the press plate 6', which is movable in the guide rails 12, to be pulled up along the supports 10', see in particular Figure 8 . In the device 1', each of the press plates 5', 6' is thus arranged so as to be displaceable in one of the spatial directions A or B. The belt 19 can be deflected via a deflection roller 19a attached to the press plate 6' in order to have sufficient space in the area of the base frame 9 for the short-stroke lifting device (not shown). In this case, the belt 19 is guided in a manner not shown over a length compensation device which compensates for the different belt lengths between the spindles 17 and the deflection roller 19a when the press plate 6' is moved. Alternatively, the deflection roller 19a can also be attached in a manner not shown to a support (not shown) which extends horizontally between the two supports 10'. The horizontal conveyor 30 can be designed in the same way as described above.

The assembly of the glass panels 3', 4' is carried out in the device 1' as follows: First, the first glass panel 3' is transported into the device 1' by the horizontal conveyor 30 in the conveying direction C. The first glass panel 3' is now the larger glass panel. When the first glass panel 3' is in the desired position in the conveying direction C in the device 1' and is leaning against the pressing surface 8 of the second pressing plate 6', it is lifted slightly by a short-stroke lifting device (not shown) as described above. The first pressing plate 5' is then moved with its pressing surface 7 against the first glass panel 3' and is held there again by suction means (not shown). The first pressing plate 5' is then moved away from the second pressing plate 6' in the first spatial direction A. The second, smaller glass panel 4' is then transported into the device 1' with the frame-shaped spacer 2. The second press plate 6' is located in its lower position, for example in Figure 11 shown position. When the second glass panel 4' has reached its desired position in the conveying direction C, it is also lifted a little by the short-stroke lifting device (not shown) and sucked onto the pressing surface 8 of the second pressing plate 6' by suction means (again not shown) and held there, see the Figure 11 The smaller glass panel 4' with the spacer 2 attached to it is now pushed upwards in the spatial direction B by the second pressing plate 6' being moved by the drive device 14, see Figure 12 The first pressing plate 5' is now moved towards the second pressing plate 6 by the drive device 13, so that the two glass panels 3', 4' are assembled and pressed together with the spacer 2 in between to form an insulating glass pane. The suction of the two glass panels 3', 4' onto the respective pressing surfaces 7, 8 is then stopped and the distance between the two pressing plates 5', 6' is increased again by actuating the drive device 13 in the opposite direction. The assembled insulating glass pane is then lowered back onto the rollers 31 by the short-stroke lifting device (not shown) and transported out of the device 1' by the horizontal conveyor 30 in the conveying direction C.

To produce a triple insulating glass pane in the device 1', in a manner not shown - after the pressing process of the larger glass panel 3' with the smaller glass panel 4' - the holding of the smaller glass panel 4' on the pressing surface 8 can be ended, while the larger glass panel 3' continues to be held on the first pressing plate 5'. The first pressing plate 5' with the larger glass panel 3' held on it and the smaller glass panel 4' joined to it is then moved in the first spatial direction A, so that the mutual distance between the two pressing plates 5', 6' increases and the smaller glass panel 4' moves away from the pressing surface 8. The second pressing plate 6' is then moved downwards without the glass panel against the spatial direction B. Now an additional glass panel (not shown) is fed in the conveying direction C on the horizontal conveyor 30 and is again lifted a little by the short-stroke lifting device (not shown) and sucked onto the pressing surface 8 by the suction means and held there. The additional glass panel with an additional spacer glued to it is then pushed upwards by moving the second pressing plate 6' in the spatial direction B. Then, by moving the first pressing plate 5' with the larger glass panel 3' held on it and the smaller glass panel 4' joined to it in the opposite direction to spatial direction A, a further pressing process is carried out with the additional glass panel held at the appropriate height by the pressing plate 6'. After the further pressing process, the suction of the glass panel 3' and the additional glass panel to the respective pressing surface 7, 8 is terminated, the distance between the two pressing plates 5', 6' is increased again and the assembled triple insulating glass pane is lowered back onto the horizontal conveyor 30 by the short-stroke lifting device (not shown) and transported away.

As can be seen particularly from the representations of the Figures 6 and 12 , the smaller glass panel 3 or 4' no longer rests on the rollers 31 of the horizontal conveyor 30 during removal after the pressing process due to the step formed on the lower edge 32. The same applies to any additional glass panel provided (not shown). A support device 40 is therefore provided for the smaller glass panel 3, 4' and/or the additional glass panel, which is assigned to the pressing plate 5 or 6' that can be moved in the second spatial direction B. The support device 40 can contain several freely rotatable rollers 41 in order to support the lower edge 32 of the smaller glass panel 3, 4' and/or the additional glass panel. The support device 40 is arranged in the device so as to be displaceable in the second spatial direction B in order to adapt the position of the rollers 41 to the size of the step formed. The support device 40 can be attached to the press plate 5 or 6', which can be displaced in the second spatial direction B, and can be displaced together with it. The support device 40 is also arranged in the device so as to be displaceable in the first spatial direction A, so that the distance of the rollers 41 to the larger glass panel 4 or 3' can be changed in order to be able to adapt the position of the support device 40 to different thicknesses of the glass panels and the spacer 2 and, if applicable, an additional spacer (not shown).

The device 1, 1' can be designed in a manner not shown but known per se to fill the space between the two glass panels 3, 4 or 3', 4' with a gas other than air before the pressing process. For this purpose, the pressing plates 5, 6 or 5', 6' can be filled with gases from the WO 2007/009642 A2 known sealing devices or, for example, from the WO 2011/134565 A1 known means for bending a glass plate. A possible gas filling takes place after the pressing plate 5 with the glass plate 3 held thereon or the pressing plate 6 with the glass plate 4' held thereon, see Figure 12 , was moved upwards in the second spatial direction B and the smaller glass panel 3 or 4' the desired in Figure 6 or 12 with respect to the larger glass panel 4 or 3'.

List of reference symbols

1, 1'

device

2

Spacers

3, 3'

First glass panel

4, 4'

Additional glass panel

5, 5'

First press plate

6, 6'

Second press plate

7

Pressing area

8

Pressing area

9

Base frame

10, 10'

carrier

11

Guide rail

12

Guide rail

13

Drive system

14

Drive system

15

Drive motor

16

Drive motor

17

spindle

18

spindle

19

belt

19a

Deflection pulley

20

Waves

30

Horizontal conveyor

31

Roll

32

Bottom edge

33

Space

40

Support device

41

Roll

A

First spatial direction

B

Second spatial direction

C

Conveying direction

Claims (13)

1. A device (1) for assembling glass sheets (3, 4; 3', 4') to form insulating glass panes, in which in each case at least two glass sheets (3, 4; 3', 4') are held at a distance from one another by a frame-shaped spacer (2) extending along their edges and are bonded to one another, having the following features:

   • the device (1) contains two upstanding pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6'), each with a pressing surface (7, 8);

   • the pressing surfaces (7, 8) are arranged facing each other on the pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6');

   • at least one of the pressing plates (5; 5', 6') has means for holding a glass sheet on its pressing surface (7, 8);

   • the two pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6') are arranged to be displaceable relative to one another in a first spatial direction (A) and in a second spatial direction (B);

   • the first spatial direction (A) extends transversely to the pressing surfaces (7, 8) of the pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6'), and their mutual distance can be varied by displacing at least one of the pressing plates (5; 5') in the first spatial direction (A);

   • the second spatial direction (B) extends transversely to the first spatial direction (A);

   • the device (1) contains at least one carrier (10; 10') and a guide rail (12), via which one of the pressing plates (5; 6') is arranged on the carrier (10; 10') so as to be displaceable in the second spatial direction (B),

   • the pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6') are assigned a pressing device (13) for pressing an insulating glass pane that can be positioned between the pressing surfaces (7, 8),

   • the device (1) comprises a horizontal conveyor (30) arranged in the vicinity of the lower edge of one of the pressing plates (6; 6') for conveying upstanding glass sheets (3, 4; 3', 4') with a conveying direction (C) extending along the lower edge of this pressing plate (6; 6') and transversely to the second spatial direction (B),

   • the device (1) contains a supporting device (40) being displaceable in the first and second spatial directions (A, B) for supporting a lower edge (32) of at least one glass sheet (3; 4'), which is associated with the pressing plate (5; 6') displaceable in the second spatial direction (B) and the distance of which to the pressing surface (7; 8) of the other pressing plate (6; 5') and to the horizontal conveyor (30) is variable.
2. A device according to claim 1, which has a stationary base frame (9) on which the two pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6') are arranged, wherein at least one of the pressing plates (5; 5', 6') is arranged moveably on the base frame (9).
3. A device according to claim 2, in which a first of the two pressing plates (5') is arranged on the base frame (9) so as to be displaceable in the first spatial direction (A), and in which the second pressing plate (6') is arranged on the base frame (9) so as to be displaceable in the second spatial direction (B).
4. A device according to claim 2, in which a first of the two pressing plates (5) is arranged on the base frame (9) so as to be displaceable in both spatial directions (A, B), and in which the second pressing plate (6) is immovably connected to the base frame (9).
5. A device according to claim 1, in which the guide rail (12) runs parallel to one of the pressing surfaces (7; 8).
6. A use of a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

   • in which a first glass sheet (3; 3') is fed to the first pressing plate (5; 5') and placed against its pressing surface (7);

   • in which a further glass sheet (4; 4') is fed to the second pressing plate (6; 6') and placed against its pressing surface (8);

   • in which a frame-shaped spacer (2) is bonded to at least one of the glass sheets (4; 4') in a way extending along its edges before the glass sheet is fed to the respective pressing plate (6; 6');

   • in which one glass sheet (3; 4') is smaller than the other glass sheet (4; 3');

   • in which the smaller glass sheet (3; 4') is held against the pressing surface (7; 8) against which it rests;

   • in which the pressing plate (5; 6') with the smaller glass sheet (3; 4') held thereon is moved relative to the other pressing plate (6; 5') in a direction (B) extending along one of the pressing surfaces (7; 8) to such an extent that the edge of the smaller glass sheet (3; 4') extends inside the edge of the larger glass sheet (4; 3') and at a distance from the edge of the larger glass sheet (4; 3');

   • in which, after displacement of the pressing plate (5, 6') with the smaller glass sheet (3, 4') held thereon, the distance between the two pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6') is reduced by displacing at least one of the two pressing plates (5; 5'), so that the glass sheets (3, 4; 3', 4') with the spacer (2) between them are joined together to form an insulating glass pane and pressed against each other;

   • in which, after the pressing process, the smaller glass sheet (3; 4') is no longer held against the pressing surface (7; 8) and the mutual distance between the two pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6') is increased again;

   • and in which the assembled insulating glass pane is conveyed out of the device (1).
7. A method for assembling glass sheets (3, 4; 3', 4') to form insulating glass panes in a device (1) which contains a first pressing plate and a second pressing plate (5, 6; 5', 6') each having a pressing surface (7, 8) and in which the pressing surfaces (7, 8) are arranged facing one another on the upstanding pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6'),

   • in which a first glass sheet (3; 3') is fed to the first pressing plate (5; 5') and placed against its pressing surface (7);

   • in which a further glass sheet (4; 4') is fed to the second pressing plate (6; 6') and placed against its pressing surface (8);

   • in which a frame-shaped spacer (2) is bonded to at least one of the glass sheets (4; 4') in a way extending along its edges before the glass sheet is fed to the respective pressing plate (6; 6');

   • in which one glass sheet (3; 4') is smaller than the other glass sheet (4; 3');

   • in which the smaller glass sheet (3; 4') is held in place on the pressing surface (7; 8) against which it rests;

   • in which the pressing plate (5; 6') with the smaller glass sheet (3; 4') held thereon is arranged moveably on a support (10; 10') via a guide rail (12) and is moved relative to the other pressing plate (6; 5') in a direction (B) extending along one of the pressing surfaces (7; 8) so that the edge of the smaller glass sheet (3; 4') extends inside the edge of the larger glass sheet (4; 3') and at a distance from the edge of the larger glass sheet (4; 3');

   • in which, after displacement of the pressing plate (5, 6') with the smaller glass sheet (3, 4') held thereon, the distance between the two pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6') is reduced by displacing at least one of the two pressing plates (5; 5'), so that the glass sheets (3, 4; 3', 4') with the spacer (2) between them are joined together to form an insulating glass pane and pressed against each other;

   • in which, after the pressing process, the smaller glass sheet (3; 4') is no longer held against the pressing surface (7; 8) and the mutual distance between the two pressing plates (5, 6; 5', 6') is increased again;

   • and in which the assembled insulating glass pane is conveyed out of the device (1).
8. A method according to claim 7,

   • in which the larger glass sheet (3') is fed to the first pressing plate (5') as the first glass sheet (3'), placed against its pressing surface (7) and held thereon;

   • in which the first pressing plate (5') with the larger glass sheet (3') held thereon is moved in a first spatial direction (A) extending transversely to the pressing surfaces (7, 8), so that the mutual distance between the two pressing plates (5', 6') increases;

   • in which the smaller glass sheet (4') is fed to the second pressing plate (6') as the further glass sheet (4'), placed against its pressing surface (8) and held thereon;

   • in which the second pressing plate (6') with the smaller glass sheet (4') held thereon is moved relative to the first pressing plate (5') in a second spatial direction (B), which is orientated transversely to the first spatial direction (A);

   • and in which, after the pressing process, the holding of the larger glass sheet (3') on the pressing surface (7) is also terminated before the mutual distance between the two pressing plates (5', 6') is increased again.
9. A method according to claim 8,

   • in which an additional glass sheet is joined to the smaller glass sheet (4') or the larger glass sheet (3') with the interposition of a frame-shaped additional spacer, so that a triple insulating glass pane is formed after joining.
10. A method according to claim 9,

    • in which, after the pressing process of the larger glass sheet (3') with the smaller glass sheet (4'), the holding of the smaller glass sheet (4') on the pressing surface (8) is terminated, while the larger glass sheet (3') continues to be held on the first pressing plate (5');

    • in which the first pressing plate (5') with the larger glass sheet (3') held thereon and the smaller glass sheet (4') joined thereto is moved in the first spatial direction (A), so that the mutual distance between the two pressing plates (5', 6') increases and the smaller glass sheet (4') moves away from the pressing surface (8) of the second pressing plate (6');

    • in which the second pressing plate (6') without glass sheet held thereon is moved relative to the first pressing plate (5') against the second spatial direction (B);

    • in which the additional glass sheet is subsequently fed to the second pressing plate (6'), placed against its pressing surface (8) and held thereon;

    • in which the second pressing plate (6') with the additional glass sheet held thereon is moved relative to the first pressing plate (5') in the second spatial direction (B);

    • in which a further pressing process is carried out with the additional glass sheet by moving the first pressing plate (5') with the larger glass sheet (3') held thereon and the smaller glass sheet (4') joined thereto against the first spatial direction (A),

    • and in which, after the further pressing process, the holding of the larger glass sheet (3') and the additional glass sheet on the respective pressing surface (7; 8) is terminated before the mutual distance between the two pressing plates (5', 6') is increased again and the triple insulating glass pane is conveyed out of the device (1).
11. A method according to claim 7,

    • in which the smaller glass sheet (3) is fed as the first glass sheet (3) to the first pressing plate (5), placed against its pressing surface (7) and held thereon;

    • in which the larger glass sheet (4) is fed to the second pressing plate (6) as the further glass sheet (4) and placed against its pressing surface (8);

    • and in which the first pressing plate (5) with the smaller glass sheet (3) held thereon is moved in a first and a second spatial direction (A, B), while the second pressing plate (6) with the larger glass sheet (4) resting thereon is held immobile.
12. A method according to claim 11,

    • in which an additional glass sheet is joined to the smaller glass sheet (3) with the interposition of a frame-shaped additional spacer, so that a triple insulating glass pane is formed after joining with the larger glass sheet (4).
13. A method according to claim 12,

    • in which, before the larger glass sheet (4) is fed to the second pressing plate (6), the additional glass sheet is fed to the second pressing plate (6) and placed against its pressing surface (8);

    • in which the first pressing plate (5) with the smaller glass sheet (3) held thereon is moved against the first spatial direction (A) and a pressing operation is carried out with the additional glass sheet in order to join the smaller glass sheet (3) to the additional glass sheet;

    • in which the first pressing plate (5) with the smaller glass plate (3) still held thereon and the additional glass sheet joined thereto is moved in the first spatial direction (A), so that the mutual distance between the two pressing plates (5, 6) increases and the additional glass sheet moves away from the pressing surface (8) of the second pressing plate (6);

    • in which the larger glass sheet (4) is subsequently fed to the second pressing plate (6) and placed against its pressing surface (8);

    • in which the first pressing plate (5) with the smaller glass sheet (3) held thereon and the additional glass sheet joined thereto is moved in the second spatial direction (B);

    • in which a further pressing process is carried out with the larger glass sheet (4) by displacing the first pressing plate (5) with the smaller glass sheet (3) held thereon and the additional glass sheet joined thereto against the first spatial direction (A);

    • and in which, after the further pressing process, the holding of the smaller glass sheet (3) on the pressing surface (7) is terminated before the mutual distance between the two pressing plates (5, 6) is increased again and the triple insulating glass pane is conveyed out of the device (1).

Images