Efficient assembly of triple pane windows

Apparatus for assembling triple pane insulating glass units from a plurality of insulating spacer frames having sealant or adhesive applied to opposite sides of said frames, an assembly station for constructing the triple pane insulating glass units comprising:

• a) an air flotation conveyor for routing a plurality of glass lites or panes to a non-contact vacuum assembly;
• b) an assembly station comprising the non-contact vacuum assembly for registering a first glass lite of the plurality of glass lites from the conveyor and second glass lites of the plurality of glass lites on opposite sides of a spacer frame, the vacuum assembly for positioning the first glass lite at a registration position, wherein the vacuum assembly generates a lifting force to cause the first glass lite to hover at the registration position;
• c) a drive of the assembly station, the drive for moving the second glass lite of the plurality of glass lites attached to a first spacer frame into registration with respect to the first glass lite at the registration position;
• d) a controller in communication with the assembly station for moving the first glass lite into contact with sealant or adhesive on the second glass lite and the spacer frame and moving the first and second glass lites and spacer frame as a unit away from the assembly station to a downstream workstation;
• and
• e) a butterfly table for bringing a second spacer frame and third glass lite, of the plurality of glass lites or panes, attached to the second spacer frame into registration with the unit comprising the combined first and second glass lites and pressing an exposed surface of one of said first and second glass lites into engagement with sealant or adhesive on said second spacer frame to form a triple pane insulating glass unit.

An apparatus for assembling triple pane insulating glass units from a plurality of insulating spacer frames having sealant or adhesive applied to opposite sides of said spacer frames, an assembly station for constructing the triple pane insulating glass units comprising:

• a) a conveyor for routing a plurality of glass lites or panes along a controlled path;
• b) an assembly station for registering first glass lites of the plurality of glass lites from the conveyor on an opposite side of a spacer frame from a second glass lite, the assembly station comprising a lifting station, the lifting station comprising a base and a vacuum assembly comprising a moveable lift frame and an array of non-contact lift pads coupled to a moveable lift frame that generate a lifting force to cause the first glass lite to hover above the base;
• c) a drive of the assembly station, the drive for moving a second glass lite of the plurality of glass lites attached to a first spacer frame into registration with respect to the first glass lite at the registration position;
• d) a controller in communication with the vacuum assembly that controls the vacuum assembly to allow the first glass lite to move downward into contact with sealant or adhesive on the spacer frame and moves the first and second glass lites and spacer frame as a unit away from the assembly station toward a downstream workstation;
• and
• e) a butterfly table at the downstream workstation that brings a second spacer frame and a third glass lite attached to the second spacer frame into registration with the first and second glass lites of the unit to configure a triple pane insulating glass unit.