Device and method for connecting profiled parts
At least two profiled parts ( 1 ) are fixed to profile supports ( 2 ) that can be moved relative to each other. The profiled parts ( 1 ) are each partially melted at an end joining face ( 10 ) with a heating element ( 5 ) in a melting step and, after the heating element ( 5 ) has been removed, the partially melted joining faces ( 10 ) of the profiled parts are pressed against each other in a joining step, until the molten materials brought into contact with each other there cool down and solidify, forming a welded connection. To avoid or reduce occurrence or development of a welding bead, in a separating step that is carried out before the joining step, a mating tool ( 6, 29 ) is guided through the melt along the separating edge ( 9 ) of the limiting element ( 3 ), in order to separate the excess melt ( 7 ) that has escaped over the separating edge ( 9 ).
1. A method for connecting at least two profiled parts ( 1 , 34 ) made of a thermoplastic material, comprising:
(a) securing the at least two profiled parts ( 1 ) to profile supports ( 2 ) that can be moved relative to each other;
(b) partially melting the at least two profiled parts ( 1 ) at their end joining faces ( 10 ) during a partial melting step employing a heating element ( 5 );
(c) resting a limiting element ( 3 ) with a separating edge ( 9 ) on and/or against at least one outer surface of at least one profiled part ( 1 ), wherein, during the partial melting step (b), the limiting element ( 3 ) controls and/or limits excess melt ( 7 ) at the transition of the appertaining joining face ( 10 ) from escaping towards the outer surface of the profiled part;
(d) guiding a counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) through the melt along the separating edge ( 9 ) of the limiting element ( 3 ) in order to segregate the excess melt ( 7 ) that has escaped over the separating edge ( 9 ); and
(e) after the heating element ( 5 ) has been removed, pressing together the partially melted joining faces ( 10 ) of the profiled parts until the partially melted joining faces have solidified to form a welded connection.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) executes a rolling movement.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) is brought into contact with the separating edge ( 9 ), at least in certain sections, during the segregation of the excess melt ( 7 ).
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) is spring-loaded.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the limiting element ( 3 ) is moved in the plane of the outer surface of the profiled part ( 1 ) on which the limiting element rests, relative to the joining face ( 10 ) into at least two positions, so that the limiting element ( 3 ) is in an advanced position during the segregation step, and is in a retracted position during the joining step, or vice versa.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) is guided towards the separating edge ( 9 ) at a prescribed tool distance ( 20 ) of less than 0.5 mm.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) is configured in the form of a blade and pushes in a first direction ( 17 ) running along the separating edge ( 9 ) and in a second direction ( 18 ) that runs crosswise thereto, with the result that the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) moves in a third direction ( 19 ) that runs at an angle relative to the separating edge ( 9 ).
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the profile edge ( 21 ) of the profiled part that limits the joining face ( 10 ) towards the outside is shaped at least in some sections inwards in the direction of the joining face ( 10 ) by means of the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) or by means of a separately movable finishing tool ( 22 , 22 ′).
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein segregation of the excess melt ( 7 ) in step (d) is followed by a finishing step employing a finishing tool ( 22 , 22 ′) during which the profile edge ( 21 ) is shaped.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the finishing tool ( 22 ′) processes both profiled parts ( 1 , 34 ) at the same time.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the appertaining profile edge ( 21 ) of the profiled parts ( 1 , 34 ) is shaped by the finishing tool ( 22 ′) prior to the joining step (e), and the joining line resulting from the weld seam is imparted with a shape during or after completion of the joining step.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein in a first processing stage, the profile edge ( 21 ) of the profiled parts ( 1 , 34 ) is shaped by means of the finishing tool ( 22 ′) prior to the joining step (e), and, in a second processing stage, which takes place during or after completion of the joining step (e), the joining line resulting from the weld seam is given a shape by means of the finishing tool ( 22 ′).
13. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the finishing tool ( 22 ′) limits the flow of melt in the direction of the exposed surface ( 11 ) during the joining step (e).
14. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the profile edge ( 21 ) is shaped together with the movement of the counter tool along the separating edge ( 9 ).
15. A device for connecting at least two profiled parts ( 1 , 34 ) made of a thermoplastic material, comprising:
at least two profile supports ( 2 ) that can be moved relative to each other and configured to secure the at least two profiled parts ( 1 , 34 ),
a heating element ( 5 ) insertable between the profile supports ( 2 ) for purposes of partially melting respective ends of the at least two secured profiled parts ( 1 ) at their joining faces ( 1 ),
at least one limiting element ( 3 ) that rests on or against at least one outer surface of at least one profiled part ( 1 , 34 ) that is configured for contacting at least one exposed surface ( 11 ) and/or at least one functional surface ( 12 ) of the profiled parts ( 1 ), said limiting element ( 3 ) being configured with a separating edge ( 9 ) that serves to control and/or limit the escape of excess melt ( 7 ) towards the outer surface of the profiled part ( 1 ) at the transition site to the corresponding joining face ( 10 ), and
a counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) for segregating the excess melt ( 7 ) that has escaped over the separating edge ( 9 ),
wherein said counter tool is movable along the separating edge ( 9 ) and through the melt.
16. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) is rotatable or swivelable relative to the separating edge ( 9 ).
17. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) has a processing face that is contoured.
18. The device according to claim 15 , further comprising a finishing tool ( 22 , 22 ′) for processing the profile edge ( 21 ) of the at least one profiled part ( 1 ), wherein the finishing tool ( 22 , 22 ′) is configured as a roller or as a strip or as a rocker, and wherein the roller, strip or rocker has a V-shaped embossed contour.
19. The device according to claim 18 , wherein, in order to shape the profile edge ( 21 ), the movements of the heating element ( 5 ) and/or of the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) and/or of a finishing tool ( 22 , 22 ′) are at least partially coupled together.
20. The device according to claim 18 , wherein the finishing tool ( 22 ′) is configured to simultaneously process the two profiled parts ( 1 , 34 ) that are to be joined to each other.
21. The device according to claim 18 , wherein the finishing tool ( 22 ′) has a processing face ( 46 ) that can be brought into contact with the profiled part ( 1 , 34 ) and that, at least in certain sections, runs at an angle greater than 0° relative to the joining face ( 10 ).
22. The device according to claim 21 , wherein the finishing tool ( 22 ′) has at least a second processing face ( 47 ) that adjoins the first processing face ( 46 ) and that runs at a different angle relative to the joining face ( 10 ).
23. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the limiting element ( 3 ) and/or the separating edge ( 9 ) and/or the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) can warmed up or cooled down to various temperatures.
24. The device according to claim 15 , further comprising a height adjustment mechanism ( 41 ) configured to set different profile thicknesses and/or to set a tool overlap ( 35 ) between the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) and the joining face ( 10 ) of the profiled part ( 1 ).
25. The device according to claim 24 , wherein the height adjustment mechanism ( 41 ) is configured for a rough and/or fine adjustment of the profile thickness, wherein the rough adjustment is in the form of millimeter increments while the fine adjustment is in the form of increments of tenths of a millimeter.
26. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the counter tool ( 6 , 29 ) can be set at a setting angle (α) relative to the plane of the joining face ( 10 ).