Efficient assembly of triple pane windows
AssigneeGED Integrated Solutions, Inc.
InventorsWILLIAM A. BRIESE, John Grismer, Timothy B. McGlinchy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention describes a process flow and method to assemble triple IG units without contaminating the center glass lite. A non-contact vacuum pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to an assembly station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled.
Claims11
A method of assembling triple pane insulating glass units (IGUs) comprising:
- a) providing a plurality of insulating spacer frames having sealant or adhesive applied to opposite sides of said frames for constructing triple pane insulating glass units;
- b) routing a plurality of glass lites or panes of a specified size from a glass washer to an assembly station;
- c) attaching a first glass lite to a first spacer frame;
- d) moving a second glass lite to a registration position by attracting the second glass lite toward one or more non contact members which exerts a force on the second glass lite;
- e) moving the first glass lite into registration with the second glass lite and causing the second glass lite to contact sealant on the spacer frame to which the first glass lite is attached;
- f) moving the first and second glass lites to a downstream workstation;
- and
- g) at the downstream workstation bringing a second spacer frame and a third glass lite attached to the second spacer frame into registration with the combined first and second glass lites and pressing an exposed surface of one of said first and second lites into engagement with sealant on said second spacer frame to configure a triple pane insulating glass unit.
Apparatus for assembling triple pane insulating glass units comprising:
- a) a conveyor for moving a plurality of insulating spacer frames having sealant, or adhesive applied to opposite sides of said frames to an assembly station for constructing triple pane insulating glass units;
- b) a conveyor for routing a plurality of glass lites or panes in a controlled orientation from a glass wisher to the assembly station;
- c) a non-contact vacuum chuck for causing a glass lite to move to a registration position;
- d) a drive for moving an additional glass lite attached to a spacer frame into registration with respect to the glass Ute at the registration position;
- e) a control for moving the glass lite into contact with sealant on the spacer frame to which the additional glass lite is attached and moving the glass lites and spacer frame as a unit away from the vacuum chuck to a downstream workstation;
- and
- f) a butterfly press at the downstream workstation bringing a second spacer frame and third glass lite attached to the second spacer frame into registration with the combined first and second glass lites and pressing an exposed surface of one of said first and second lites into engagement with sealant on said second spacer frame to configure a triple pane insulating glass unit.
A method of configuring a multi-pane insulating glass unit comprising:
- moving at least one spacer frame and attached lite into side by side relation with at least one similar glass lite;
- pivoting the at least one spacer frame upward in one sense and simultaneously pivoting the at least one similar glass lite in an opposite sense to contact the one spacer frame with two lites in registration;
- and
- pressing the at least one similar glass lite against the at least one spacer frame to configure the insulating glass unit;
- controlling a rate of pivoting to bring the lites into registration based on a size of the lites that form the insulating glass unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.