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US 2006/0075869 A1Published application
Window component stock indexing
AssigneeGED Integrated Solutions, Inc.
InventorsTom Calcei, Mohamed Khalfoun, Brian James, Timothy McGlinchy, John Grismer, Robert Shepherd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stock supply station for use in a insulated glass unit component production line includes a plurality of rotatable sheet stock coils, an indexing mechanism, and an uncoiling mechanism. The indexing mechanism is coupled to the sheet stock coils for indexing a selected one of the sheet stock coils to an uncoiling position. The uncoiling mechanism selectively uncoils sheet stock from a sheet stock coil indexed to the uncoiling position to thereby provide sheet stock to a downstream processing station.
Claims44
A stock supply station for use in a insulated glass unit component production line, comprising:
- a) a plurality of rotatable sheet stock coils;
- b) an indexing mechanism coupled to the sheet stock coils for indexing a selected one of the sheet stock coils to an uncoiling position;
- c) an uncoiling mechanism for selectively uncoiling sheet stock from a sheet stock coil indexed to the uncoiling position to thereby provide sheet stock to a downstream processing station.
A method of supplying sheet stock to a processing station in a window component production line, comprising:
- a) selecting a desired sheet stock coil from a plurality of rotatable sheet stock coils;
- b) automatically indexing the desired sheet stock coil to an uncoiling position;
- c) automatically uncoiling sheet stock from the desired sheet stock coil indexed to the uncoiling position to thereby provide sheet stock to a downstream processing station.
A stock supply station for use in a window component production line, comprising:
- a) a plurality of rotatable sheet stock coils;
- b) a plurality of clamping mechanisms that hold an end portion of each of the sheet stock coils;
- c) an indexing mechanism coupled to the sheet stock coils for indexing a selected sheet stock coil and a corresponding clamping mechanism to an uncoiling position;
- d) a pair of drive rollers being selectively relatively moveable between a spaced apart position and an engagement position;
- e) a controller in communication with the indexing mechanism and the pair of drive rollers that moves the pair of drive rollers to the spaced apart position, indexes the selected sheet stock coil to the uncoiling position where the corresponding clamping mechanism positions the sheet stock end portion between the pair of drive rollers, moves the pair of drive rollers to the engagement position to engage the coil end portion, and rotates the drive rollers to feed the sheet stock into the processing station.
2 more elements
A method of supplying sheet stock to a processing station in a window component production line, comprising:
- a) selecting a desired sheet stock coil from a plurality of rotatable sheet stock coils;
- b) holding an end portion of each of the sheet stock coils in a paid out position;
- c) moving a pair of drive rollers to the spaced apart position;
- d) indexing end portion of the desired sheet stock coil to a position between the pair of drive rollers
- e) moving the pair of drive rollers into the engagement with the coil end portion;
- f) rotating the drive rollers to feed the sheet stock into the processing station.
3 more elements
An insulated glass unit spacer production line, comprising:
- a) a stock supply station comprising:
- i) a plurality of rotatable sheet stock coils;
- ii) an indexing mechanism coupled to the sheet stock coils for indexing a selected one of the sheet stock coils to an uncoiling position;
- iii) an uncoiling mechanism for selectively uncoiling sheet stock from a sheet stock coil indexed to the uncoiling position to thereby provide sheet stock to a downstream processing station;
- b) a stamping station that stamps the sheet stock;
- c) a roll forming station that receives stamped stock and forms rigid linearly extending spacer frame element having opposite side walls and a base wall;
- and
- d) a dispensing station for applying sealant material to external surfaces of the spacer frame element.
5 more elements
An insulated glass unit spacer production line, comprising:
- a) a stock supply station comprising:
- i) a plurality of rotatable sheet stock coils;
- ii) a plurality of clamping mechanisms that hold an end portion of each of the sheet stock coils;
- iii) an indexing mechanism coupled to the sheet stock coils for indexing a selected sheet stock coil and a corresponding clamping mechanism to an uncoiling position;
- iv) a pair of drive rollers being selectively relatively moveable between a spaced apart position and an engagement position;
- v) a controller in communication with the indexing mechanism and the pair of drive rollers that moves the pair of drive rollers to the spaced apart position, indexes the selected sheet stock coil to the uncoiling position where the corresponding clamping mechanism positions the sheet stock end portion between the pair of drive rollers, moves the pair of drive rollers to the engagement position to engage the coil end portion, and rotates the drive rollers to feed the sheet stock into the processing station;
- b) a stamping station that stamps the sheet stock;
- c) a roll forming station that receives stamped stock and forms rigid linearly extending spacer frame element having opposite side walls and a base wall;
- and
- d) a dispensing station for applying sealant material to external surfaces of the spacer frame element.
7 more elements
A method of changing elongated window component widths in an elongated window component production line, comprising:
- a) automatically indexing a sheet stock coil with a first width to an uncoiling position;
- b) providing sheet stock having the first width to a downstream processing station;
- c) processing the sheet stock having the first width at the downstream processing station;
- d) severing the sheet stock having the first width;
- e) automatically indexing a sheet stock coil with a second width to the uncoiling position while the sheet stock having the first width is being further processed by a subsequent downstream processing station;
- f) completing processing of the sheet stock having the first width at the subsequent downstream processing station;
- g) automatically adjusting the downstream processing station for processing of the sheet stock having the second width;
- h) providing sheet stock having the second width to the subsequent downstream processing station;
- and
- i) processing the sheet stock having the second width at the downstream processing station.
7 more elements
A method of changing elongated window component widths in an elongated window component production line, comprising:
- a) providing sheet stock having the first width to a first processing station;
- b) processing the sheet stock having the first width at the first processing station;
- c) providing sheet stock having the first width from the first processing station to a second processing station;
- d) processing the sheet stock having the first width at the second processing station;
- e) automatically adjusting the first processing station processing station for processing of the sheet stock having a second width while the sheet stock having the first width is being processed by the second processing station;
- and
- f) completing processing of the sheet stock having the first width at the second processing station.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.