Desiccant dispensing system
AssigneeGlass Equipment Development, Inc.
InventorsTimothy McGlinchy, John Grismer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member. The appropriate desiccant dispensing nozzle is automatically selected and/or the distance between the desiccant dispensing nozzle and the elongated spacer frame member is automatically determined based on a property of the spacer frame member, such as the width of the spacer frame member.
Claims37
A method of controlling dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member, comprising:
- a) automatically indexing one of a plurality of nozzles to a delivery site located along a path of travel of the elongated spacer frame member;
- b) moving the elongated spacer frame member along the path of travel relative to the delivery site at a controlled speed;
- and
- c) delivering controlled amounts of the desiccant material through the nozzle at the delivery site to the interior region of the elongated spacer frame member.
A method of controlling dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member, comprising:
- a) monitoring widths of elongated spacer frame members that are moved along a path of travel;
- b) moving a first elongated spacer frame member having a first width along the path of travel relative to a delivery site at a controlled speed;
- c) automatically positioning a first nozzle that corresponds to the first width at the delivery site;
- d) delivering controlled amounts of the desiccant material through the first nozzle at the delivery site to the interior region of the first elongated spacer frame member;
- e) moving a second elongated spacer frame member having a second width along the path of travel relative to a delivery site at a controlled speed;
- f) automatically positioning a second nozzle that corresponds to the second width at the delivery site;
- and
- g) delivering controlled amounts of the desiccant material through the second nozzle at the delivery site to the interior region of the second elongated spacer frame member.
A method of controlling dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member, comprising:
- a) monitoring widths of elongated spacer frame members that are moved along a path of travel;
- b) moving a first elongated spacer frame member having a first width along the path of travel relative to a delivery site at a controlled speed;
- c) automatically positioning a nozzle at a first distance above the path of travel that corresponds to the first width;
- d) delivering controlled amounts of the desiccant material through the nozzle at the delivery site to the interior region of the first elongated spacer frame member;
- e) moving a second elongated spacer frame member having a second width along the path of travel relative to a delivery site at a controlled speed;
- f) automatically positioning the nozzle at a second distance above the path of travel that corresponds to the second width;
- and
- g) delivering controlled amounts of the desiccant material through the nozzle at the delivery site to the interior region of the second elongated spacer frame member.
A method of controlling dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member, comprising:
- a) monitoring widths of elongated spacer frame members that are moved along a path of travel;
- b) automatically positioning a nozzle with respect to the path of travel based on monitored widths of the elongated spacer frame members;
- c) moving the elongated spacer frame member along the path of travel relative to the delivery site at a controlled speed;
- d) delivering controlled amounts of the desiccant material through the nozzle at the delivery site to the interior region of the elongated spacer frame member.
A system for controlled dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member, comprising:
- a) a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the desiccant material into the interior region of the elongated spacer frame member;
- b) an actuator for selectively indexing each of the plurality of nozzles to a delivery site located along a path of travel of the elongated spacer frame member;
- c) a conveyor for moving the elongated spacer frame member along the path of travel relative to the delivery site at a controlled speed;
- d) a controller that selects a nozzle indexed to the delivery site based on a width of an elongated spacer frame member approaching the delivery site.
A system for controlled dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member, comprising:
- a) a nozzle for dispensing the desiccant material into the interior region of the elongated spacer frame member;
- b) an actuator for positioning the nozzle above a delivery site located along a path of travel of the elongated spacer frame member;
- c) a conveyor for moving the elongated spacer frame member along the path of travel relative to the delivery site at a controlled speed;
- and
- d) a controller that determines a distance between the nozzle and the elongated spacer frame member at the delivery site based on a width of an elongated spacer frame member approaching the delivery site.
A system for controlled dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member, comprising:
- a) a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the desiccant material into the interior region of the elongated spacer frame member;
- b) an actuator for selectively indexing each of the plurality of nozzles to a delivery site located along a path of travel of the elongated spacer frame member;
- c) a conveyor for moving the elongated spacer frame member along the path of travel relative to the delivery site at a controlled speed;
- d) a controller that monitors widths of elongated spacer frame members conveyed to the delivery site, selects a nozzle indexed to the delivery site based on a width of an elongated spacer frame member conveyed to the delivery site, and determines a distance between the nozzle and the elongated spacer frame member at the delivery site based on a width of an elongated spacer frame member conveyed to the delivery site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.