Machine and method for the assembly of profiles

Apparatus comprising,

• a machine (1) for assembly of profiles (2) which are formed of at least a first profile section (3) and a second profile section (4) which are connected by thermally insulating sections (5, 6),
• whereby edges (38, 39, 45, 46, 86) of the thermally insulating sections (5, 6) are provided in grooves (17, 20, 31, 33, 82, 90) of the profile sections (3, 4),
• whereby the machine (1) is provided with press tools (48) that deform walls of the grooves (17, 20, 31, 33, 82, 90) of the profile sections (3, 4) to plastically deform one or several walls (18) of the grooves (17, 20, 31, 33, 82, 90) by pressing the press tools (48), to achieve a clamping of the thermally insulating sections (5, 6) in the grooves and thus a connection between the profile sections (3, 4),
• whereby the press tools (48) are provided on one or several trolleys which can move to and fro along the profile sections (3, 4) to be assembled, and
• wherein the trolley or trolleys are configured such that, during a forward movement of the trolley or trolleys the grooves (17, 20, 31, 33, 82, 90) are first roughened and the thermally insulating sections (5, 6) are provided in the grooves (17, 20, 31, 33, 82, 90), and such that during a return movement of the trolley or trolleys the grooves (17, 20, 31, 33, 82, 90) are plastically deformed by means of the press tools (48) to connect the profile sections (3, 4),
• wherein the press tools (48) are configured in at least two pairs on (49-50, 51-52) on opposite sides of one of the profile sections (3, 4) to be assembled,
• wherein the press tools (48) are arranged to move in a lateral direction (HH′) at right angles to a longitudinal direction of the profile (2) to be formed during the pressing,
• wherein the machine (1) is provided with press means (58), said press means (58) being adapted for exerting an adjustable pressure on the at least two pairs (49-50, 51-52) of the press tools (48) on either side of the profile sections (3, 4) to be assembled in a horizontal lateral direction (HH′) and towards the profile sections (3, 4) to be assembled to exert an adjustable force on the corresponding walls (18) of the grooves (17, 20, 31, 33, 82, 90),
• wherein the press tools (48) are adapted to be positioned in relation to a central axis of the profile (2) defined by a local shape of the profile sections (3, 4) such that a constant force is continuously exerted on each of the respective walls (18) of the grooves (17, 20, 31, 33, 82, 90) of the profile sections (3, 4) of the profile (2), irrespective of small deviations in the shape of the profile sections (3, 4) within certain tolerance limits,
• wherein the press means (58) are adapted for exerting an adjustable force on the press tools (48) on each side of the profile sections (3, 4) to be assembled, and wherein the adjustable force is independently adjustable for each of the press tools of said at least two such pair of press tools (49-50, 51-52),
• whereby a first pair of the at least two pairs of the press tools are situated opposite one another on two opposite sides (53, 54) of the first profile section (3), whereas a second pair of the at least two pairs of the press tools are placed opposite one another at a certain distance from the first pair in the longitudinal direction of the profile (2) to be formed, also on opposite sides (53, 54) of the second profile section (4), and
• wherein the press means (58) is configured to provide the force for plastically deforming the walls (18) of the grooves (17, 20, 82) of the first profile section (3) independently of the force for deforming the walls (18) of the grooves (31, 33, 90) of the second profile section (4).