High speed parallel process insulated glass manufacturing line
AssigneeErdman Automation Corporation
InventorMorgan Donohue
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high speed parallel manufacturing line for manufacturing insulated glass units, the manufacturing line including a gas filling topping press that mates a spacer applied lite supplied to the topping press and a topping lite supplied to the topping press to create an insulated glass unit and fills the insulated glass unit with a non-air gas. A heating station applies localized heat to adhesive of the spacer material. A sealing press applies pressure to the insulated glass unit and facilitates further sealing of the spacer material to the spacer applied lite and the topping lite. The line may include a fourth corner sealer that completes sealing of the airspace of the IGU prior to finishing of the IGU.
Claims9
A method of assembling an insulated glass unit in an ambient temperature environment, the method comprising:
- mating a first glass lite and a second glass lite with a spacer material that includes an adhesive, wherein the wettability of the adhesive increases with increased temperature, such that the first glass lite is separated from the second glass lite by the spacer material;
- applying focused infrared radiant energy in the ambient temperature environment to the spacer material and only a perimeter of the first glass lite and the second glass lite thereby raising a temperature of the spacer material above the ambient temperature while minimally heating the first glass lite and the second glass lite to facilitate adhesion between the spacer material and the first and the second glass lites;
- and
- mating the first and the second glass lites together with the spacer material therebetween and with a gas entrapped in a cavity bounded by the first and second glass lites and the spacer material thereby forming an at least partially primary sealed insulated glass unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.