Method and apparatus for processing sealant of an insulating glass unit
AssigneeGlass Equipment Development, Inc.
InventorTimothy Bryan McGlinchy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for heating and/or pressing sealant of an insulating glass unit. The apparatus may include an oven and a press. The oven includes a detector that detects an optical property of the insulating glass unit. The detected optical property is used to regulate the amount of energy applied to the insulating glass unit to adjust the amount of energy applied to the sealant. The press may include a displacement transducer that detects a pre-pressed thickness of the insulating glass unit. The measured pre-pressed thickness is used to automatically select a press thickness from a set of pressed IGU thicknesses.
Claims38
An apparatus for applying energy to sealant of an insulating glass unit, comprising:
- a) a detector that detects an optical property of said insulating glass unit;
- b) an energy source that applies energy to said insulating glass unit to apply energy to said sealant;
- c) a conveyor that moves said insulating glass unit with respect to said energy source;
- and
- d) a controller coupled to said detector that adjusts an amount of energy applied by said energy source to said insulating glass unit in response to said detected optical property.
A method of applying energy to sealant of an insulating glass unit, comprising:
- a) detecting an optical property of said insulating glass unit;
- b) positioning said insulating glass with respect to an energy source;
- and
- c) adjusting an amount of energy supplied by said energy source to said insulating glass unit in response to said detected optical property to adjust an amount of energy applied to said sealant of said insulating glass unit.
An apparatus for heating sealant of an insulating glass unit, comprising:
- a) a detector that detects an optical property of said insulating glass unit;
- b) first and second arrays of infrared lamps;
- c) a conveyor that defines a path of travel of said insulating glass unit between said first and second arrays of infrared lamps;
- and
- d) a controller coupled to said detector and said first and second arrays of infrared lamps that changes a number of lamps in said first and second arrays that supply energy to said insulating glass unit to adjust an amount of energy supplied to said insulating glass unit in response to said detected optical property to heat said sealant of said insulating glass unit.
A method of applying energy to heat sealant of an insulating glass unit, comprising:
- a) detecting an optical property of said insulating glass unit;
- b) moving said insulating glass unit at a uniform speed between first and second arrays of infrared lamps;
- and
- c) changing a number of said infrared lamps that supply energy to said insulating glass unit in response to said detected optical property to adjust an amount of energy supplied to said insulating glass unit in to heat said sealant of said insulating glass unit.
A press for an insulating glass unit, comprising:
- a) a displacement transducer configured to measure a pre-pressed thickness of an insulating glass unit;
- b) a controller coupled to said displacement transducer that is programmed to compare the measured thickness with a set of ranges of pre-pressed thicknesses that correspond to a set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses and select one thickness from the set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses that corresponds to the measured pre-pressed thickness;
- and
- c) pressing members coupled to the controller that are spaced apart by a distance controlled by said controller, said controller being programmed to set said distance between said pressing members to said one selected insulating glass unit pressed thickness.
A method of pressing an insulating glass unit, comprising:
- a) measuring a pre-pressed thickness of an insulating glass unit;
- b) comparing the measured thickness with a set of ranges of pre-pressed thicknesses that correspond to a set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses;
- c) selecting one thickness from the set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses that corresponds to the measured pre-pressed thickness;
- d) setting a distance between pressing members of a press to the selected one insulating glass unit pressed thickness;
- and
- e) passing the pre-pressed insulating glass unit through the press.
An apparatus for use in the construction of insulating glass units, comprising:
- a) a detector that detects an optical property of said insulating glass unit;
- b) a displacement transducer configured to measure a pre-pressed thickness of said insulating glass unit;
- b) first and second arrays of infrared lamps;
- c) a conveyor that defines a path of travel of said insulating glass unit between said first and second arrays of infrared lamps;
- d) a pair of rollers spaced apart by a controllable distance;
- and
- e) a controller coupled to said detector, displacement transducer, said first and second arrays of infrared lamps and said pair of rollers, said controller is programmed to change a number of lamps in said first and second arrays that supply energy to said insulating glass unit in response to said detected optical property, to compare the measured thickness with a set of ranges of pre-pressed thicknesses that correspond to a set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses and select one thickness from the set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses that corresponds to the measured pre-pressed thickness, and to adjust said distance between said rollers to the selected one insulating glass unit pressed thickness.
An apparatus for applying energy to sealant of an insulating glass unit, comprising:
- a) a bar code reader that reads information on a bar code that identifies a type of glass used in the insulating glass unit;
- b) an energy source that applies energy to said insulating glass unit to apply energy to said sealant;
- c) a conveyor that moves said insulating glass unit with respect to said energy source;
- and,
- d) a controller coupled to said bar code reader that adjusts an amount of energy applied by said energy source to said insulating glass unit in response to the type of glass used in the insulating glass unit.
A method of applying energy to sealant of an insulating glass unit, comprising:
- a) reading a bar code to identify a type of glass used in the insulating glass unit;
- b) positioning said insulating glass unit with respect to an energy source;
- and,
- c) adjusting an amount of energy supplied by said energy source to said insulating glass unit in response to said type of glass identified.
A press for an insulating glass unit, comprising:
- a) a bar code reader that reads information on a bar code that identifies a pressed thickness of an insulating glass unit;
- b) a controller coupled to said bar code reader;
- and,
- c) pressing members coupled to the controller that are spaced apart by a distance controlled by said controller, said controller being programmed to set said distance between said pressing members to said pressed thickness identified by said bar code.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.