Apparatus for the automated production of glass assemblies and corresponding method

Abstract

An apparatus for the automated production of glass assemblies comprises: a turning machine with at least two spindles which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation and which each have a workpiece holder, wherein the workpiece holders are arranged opposite one another; one or more gas burners or lasers fixed on a first tool carriage which is movable in parallel and/or perpendicularly to the axis of rotation; one or more drives for driving a rotational movement of the spindles and a movement of the first tool carriage; a pressure module including a pump device at least one working cylinder for applying a pressure to an inner tube and/or to a space between the inner tube and an outer tube; and a control unit configured to control the burners or lasers, one or more drives, the first tool carriage and the pressure module.

1 . An apparatus for the automated production of glass assemblies, each of which includes an outer tube and an inner tube extending inside the outer tube, wherein the inner tube and the outer tube are arranged coaxially, and wherein one end of the inner tube is connected in a firmly bonded manner to a tube wall of the outer tube, the apparatus comprising:
 a turning machine including at least two spindles which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation and which each have a workpiece holder, wherein the workpiece holders are arranged opposite one another;   one or more gas burners or lasers fixed on a first tool carriage which is movable in parallel and/or perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spindles;   one or more drives adapted to drive rotational movement of the spindles and movement of the first tool carriage;   a pressure module comprising a pump device configured to apply a pressure to the inner tube and/or to a volume between the inner tube and the outer tube, wherein the pump device includes at least one working cylinder; and   a control unit configured to control the burners or lasers, the drives of the spindles, the first tool carriage and the pressure module.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure module includes a pressure sensor, and wherein the control unit is configured to execute a regulation of the pressure in the inner tube and/or in the space between the inner tube and the outer tube to a target value using the pressure sensor and the pump device accordingly. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure module includes an opening valve adapted to enable rapid opening and discharging of the pressure in the inner tube and/or in the space between the inner tube and the outer tube. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second tool carriage which is movable in parallel and/or perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spindles and on which a camera is disposed, the camera connected to the control unit as to communicate digital image data to the control unit. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the working cylinder comprises a piston rod enabling movement back and forth. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the working cylinder is a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or an electric cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the working cylinder includes a rotary encoder. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one workpiece holder includes a seal. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one workpiece holder is configured to be movable in a direction of the other workpiece holder. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a tool configured to shape the outer tube, the tool arranged on a third tool carriage which is movable in parallel and/or perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spindles. 
     
     
         11 . A method for the automated production of glass assemblies, wherein the glass assemblies each have an outer tube and an inner tube extending inside the outer tube, wherein the inner tube and the outer tube are arranged coaxially, and wherein one end of the inner tube is firmly bonded to a tube wall of the outer tube, the method comprising:
 providing the apparatus of  claim 1 ;   assembling a glass body comprising an outer tube and two inner tubes, each arranged inside the outer tube and arranged one behind the other coaxially to an axis of rotation of the outer tube, wherein the inner tubes are each firmly bonded manner to the outer tube at an end adjacent the respective other inner tube; and   applying a pressure to the inner tubes and/or to a space between the inner tubes and the outer tube, wherein the method is performed automatically using the control unit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising splitting the glass body into two separate glass assemblies. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 recording image data of the glass body; and   controlling the assembling of the glass body, the applying of the pressure, and/or the splitting of the glass body using the recorded image data.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising regulating the pressure in the inner tube and/or in the space between the inner tubes and the outer tube to a target value. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising moving at least one workpiece holder in a direction of the other workpiece holder for drawing or compressing the glass body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising shaping the outer tube using a tool.