Automated sealant applicator

An automated sealant applicator for applying sealant to insulated glass, comprising:

• computer control means;
• a support structure on which is movably disposed sealant applicator means;
• positioning means operative via said computer control means to automatically selectively position said sealant applicator means along at least three non-parallel axes, said positioning means including at least first, second, and third rectilinear positioning means operative via said computer control means to position said sealant applicator means along said three non-parallel axes, and rotary positioning means operative via said computer control means to rotate said sealant applicator means along one of said three non-parallel axes;
• sensor means operative to provide said computer control means with data regarding sealant application as the sealant is applied to the insulated glass;
• and
• wherein said computer control means are operative to automatically direct said positioning means such that said sealant applicator means automatically circumscribes a predetermined path along said three non-parallel axes, and wherein said computer control means are further operative to both determine the depth of sealant to be applied to the insulated glass, and to effect operation of said positioning means in response to said data from said sensor means such that sealant applied to the insulated glass does not exceed said determined depth.

An automated sealant applicator for applying sealant to insulated glass, comprising:

• computer control means;
• a support structure on which is movably disposed a carriage having disposed thereon a housing, said housing including sealant applicator means;
• sensor means operative to provide said computer control means with data regarding sealant application as the sealant is applied to the insulated glass;
• positioning means operative via said computer control means to automatically selectively position said sealant applicator means along at least three non-parallel axes, said positioning means including at least first, second, and third rectilinear positioning means operative via said computer control means to position said sealant applicator means along said three non-parallel axes, and rotary positioning means operative via said computer control means to rotate said sealant applicator means along one of said three non-parallel axes, wherein said housing includes said third positioning means so as to position said sealant applicator means along one of said three non-parallel axes, said rotary positioning means are provided between said housing and said carriage to rotatably position said sealant applicator means along at least one of said three non-parallel axes by rotating said housing, and wherein said carriage is rectilinearly positionable along two of said three non-parallel axes via said first and second positioning means;
• and
• wherein said computer control means are operative to automatically direct said positioning means such that said sealant applicator means automatically circumscribes a predetermined path along said three non-parallel axes, and wherein said computer control means are further operative to both determine the depth of sealant to be applied to the insulated glass, and to effect operation of said positioning means in response to said data from said sensor means such that sealant applied to the insulated glass does not exceed said determined depth.