Method of curing adhesive

A method of curing a heat curable adhesive substance, comprising:

• providing an energizable source of radiation heat energy;
• positioning the adhesive substance in close proximity with the source for irradiation thereof;
• energizing the source to irradiate an exposed surface of the adhesive substance with radiation heat energy to elevate the temperature level of the exposed surface relatively rapidly to a predetermined and substantially maximum temperature level which the substance can withstand without degradation;
• responding to the temperature level of the exposed surface of the adhesive substance to deenergize the source when the exposed surface reaches the predetermined maximum temperature level;
• maintaining the source deenergized for a time period sufficient to allow the exposed surface of the adhesive substance to cool to a predetermined lower temperature level;
• reenergizing the source to reelevate the temperature level of the adhesive substance to the predetermined maximum temperature level;
• and
• repeating said responding, maintaining, and reenergizing steps in sequence until the surface of the adhesive substance opposite the exposed surface is cured.

A method of curing a heat curable substance in a plurality of successive batches, comprising the steps of:

• providing an energizable source of radiation heat energy;
• positioning the adhesive substance in close proximity with the source for irradiation thereof;
• positioning a heat sensor adjacent the exposed surface of the adhesive substance for responding to radiation heat energy to generate a signal representative of the temperature level of the exposed surface of the adhesive substance
• deenergizing the source in response to the heat sensor signal when the signal is representative of the exposed surface reaching a predetermined maximum temperature level which the substance can withstand without degradation;
• maintaining the source deenergized for a time period sufficient to allow the exposed surface of the adhesive substance and the heat sensor to cool each to a predetermined lower temperature level;
• reenergizing the source to reelevate the temperature level of the heat sensor to the predetermined maximum temperature level in response to the heat sensor signal when the signal is representative of the substance reaching the predetermined lower temperature level;
• repeating said deenergizing and reenergizing steps in sequence until the adhesive substance is cured;
• and
• reducing the temperature level of the heat sensor substantially to ambient temperature prior to irradiation of the next batch of adhesive substance.

In an insulated window or door unit having a pair of spaced panes of glazing material spaced in parallel with each other by a peripheral spacer inset slightly from the peripheral edge of the panes, and a peripheral bead of a heat curable adhesive substance received between the panes and peripherally about the spacer, a method of curing the adhesive substance, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a heat sensor adjacent an exposed surface of the substance for responding to radiation heat energy to generate a signal representative of the temperature level of the exposed surface of the substance;
• irradiating the exposed surface of the adhesive substance and the heat sensor with radiation heat energy;
• removing the radiation heat energy from the adhesive substance and the heat sensor in response to the heat sensor signal when the signal is representative of the exposed surface reaching a predetermined maximum temperature level;
• allowing the exposed surface of the adhesive substance to cool to a predetermined lower temperature level;
• reapplying the radiation heat energy in response to the heat sensor signal when the signal is representative of the exposed surface of the adhesive substance reaching the predetermined lower temperature level to reheat the exposed surface to the predetermined maximum temperature level;
• and
• repeating said removing, allowing, and reapplying steps in sequence until the adhesive substance is cured.

In a plurality of insulated window or door units each having a pair of panes of glazing material spaced in parallel from each other by a peripheral spacer inset slightly from the peripheral edge of the panes, and a peripheral bead of a heat curable adhesive substance received between the panes and peripherally about the space, a method of curing the units in sequence, comprising the steps of:

• providing an energizable source of radiation heat energy;
• conveying a first unit into close proximity with the source for irradiation of at least one peripheral edge thereof for irradiating the adhesive substance thereat;
• positioning a heat sensor adjacent the exposed surface of the adhesive substance for responding to the radiation heat energy to generate a signal representative of the temperature level of the exposed surface of the substance;
• energizing the source to irradiate the exposed surface of the substance and the heat sensor with radiation heat energy;
• deenergizing the source in response to the heat sensor signal when the signal is representative of the exposed surface reaching a predetermined maximum temperature level which the substance can withstand without degradation;
• maintaining the source deenergized for a time period sufficient to allow the heat sensor and the exposed surface of the adhesive substance to cool each to a predetermined lower temperature level;
• reenergizing the source to reelevate the temperature level of the heat sensor to the predetermined elevated temperature level in response to the heat sensor signal when the signal is representative of the substance reaching the predetermined lower temperature level;
• repeating said deenergizing and reenergizing steps in sequence until the adhesive substance is cured;
• reducing the temperature level of the heat sensor prior to irradiation of the next unit;
• and
• conveying the next unit into close proximity with the source for irradiation.