METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR ASSEMBLING TRIPLE-PANE INSULATING GLASS UNITS
First Claim
1. An apparatus used in the construction of triple-pane insulating glass units, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a base;
(b) a glass pane handling mechanism including (i) a support structure that is rotatably coupled to the base, (ii) two opposed side panels that are coupled to or integral with the support structure, (iii) a conveying mechanism coupled to the support structure, the conveying mechanism adapted to convey glass panes into and out of a position between the opposed side panels, and (iv) a securing mechanism coupled to the support structure, the securing mechanism adapted to releasably secure glass panes conveyed into the position between the opposed side panels; and
(c) an actuating mechanism in electronic communication with the glass pane handling mechanism, the actuating mechanism adapted to cause (i) the conveying mechanism to convey a first glass pane into the position between the opposed side panels, a first-pane spacer being coupled to one major surface of the first glass pane, (ii) the securing mechanism to secure the first glass pane on an opposite major surface of the first glass pane, (iii) the glass pane handling mechanism to rotate 180°
relative to the base, (iv) the conveying mechanism to convey second and third glass panes into the position between the opposed side panels, a third-pane spacer being coupled to one major surface of the third glass pane, one edge of the second glass pane being pressed together with one edge of the third glass pane such that the third-pane spacer contacts the second glass pane, (v) the securing mechanism to (A) press one edge of the first glass pane together with the one edge of the second glass pane and the one edge of the third glass pane such that the first-pane spacer contacts the second glass pane and (B) release the first glass pane, and (vi) the conveying mechanism to convey the first, second, and third glass panes out of the position between the opposed side panels.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and equipment for automatically assembling three panes of glass and corresponding spacers so that air or other gas can be injected into the two between-pane spaces. The equipment can receive two glass panes that each have spacers coupled to one of their major surfaces, along with a third glass pane having no spacer coupled to its major surfaces, and can assemble the three glass panes into a “teepee” configuration in which the two spacers each contact two of the glass panes along a common edge of the glass panes. Preferred equipment can receive a glass pane in a first orientation and rotate the glass pane 180° to a second orientation in which the glass pane'"'"'s two major surfaces face opposite directions from the first orientation. Such preferred equipment can then receive a two-pane teepee from a previous piece of equipment and can add the “flipped” single glass pane to the teepee to create a three-pane teepee.
-
Citations
46 Claims
-
1. An apparatus used in the construction of triple-pane insulating glass units, the apparatus comprising:
-
(a) a base; (b) a glass pane handling mechanism including (i) a support structure that is rotatably coupled to the base, (ii) two opposed side panels that are coupled to or integral with the support structure, (iii) a conveying mechanism coupled to the support structure, the conveying mechanism adapted to convey glass panes into and out of a position between the opposed side panels, and (iv) a securing mechanism coupled to the support structure, the securing mechanism adapted to releasably secure glass panes conveyed into the position between the opposed side panels; and (c) an actuating mechanism in electronic communication with the glass pane handling mechanism, the actuating mechanism adapted to cause (i) the conveying mechanism to convey a first glass pane into the position between the opposed side panels, a first-pane spacer being coupled to one major surface of the first glass pane, (ii) the securing mechanism to secure the first glass pane on an opposite major surface of the first glass pane, (iii) the glass pane handling mechanism to rotate 180°
relative to the base, (iv) the conveying mechanism to convey second and third glass panes into the position between the opposed side panels, a third-pane spacer being coupled to one major surface of the third glass pane, one edge of the second glass pane being pressed together with one edge of the third glass pane such that the third-pane spacer contacts the second glass pane, (v) the securing mechanism to (A) press one edge of the first glass pane together with the one edge of the second glass pane and the one edge of the third glass pane such that the first-pane spacer contacts the second glass pane and (B) release the first glass pane, and (vi) the conveying mechanism to convey the first, second, and third glass panes out of the position between the opposed side panels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A system for the construction of triple-pane insulating glass units, the system comprising first and second apparatuses, both apparatuses including
(a) a base, (b) a glass pane handling mechanism including (i) a support structure that is coupled to the base, (ii) two opposed side panels that are coupled to or integral with the support structure, (iii) a conveying mechanism coupled to the support structure, the conveying mechanism adapted to convey glass panes into and out of a position between the opposed side panels, and (iv) a securing mechanism coupled to the support structure, the securing mechanism adapted to releasably secure glass panes conveyed into the position between the opposed side panels, and (c) an actuating mechanism in electronic communication with the glass pane handling mechanism, wherein the first apparatus'"'"'s actuating mechanism is adapted to cause (i) the first apparatus'"'"'s conveying mechanism to convey a first glass pane through the first apparatus, a first-pane spacer being coupled to one major surface of the glass pane, and to convey a second glass pane into the position between the first apparatus'"'"'s opposed side panels, (ii) the first apparatus'"'"'s securing mechanism to secure the second glass pane, (iii) the first apparatus'"'"'s conveying mechanism to convey a third glass pane into the position between the first apparatus'"'"'s opposed side panels, a third-pane spacer being coupled to one major surface of the third glass pane, (iv) the first apparatus'"'"'s securing mechanism to press one edge of the second glass pane together with one edge of the third glass pane such that the third-pane spacer contacts the second glass pane, and (v) the first apparatus'"'"'s conveying mechanism to convey the second and third glass panes through the first apparatus, and wherein the second apparatus'"'"'s actuating mechanism is adapted to cause (i) the second conveying mechanism to convey the first glass pane into the position between the second apparatus'"'"'s opposed side panels, (ii) the second apparatus'"'"'s securing mechanism to secure the first glass pane on a major surface of the first glass pane that is opposite the first-pane spacer, (iii) the second apparatus'"'"'s glass pane handling mechanism to rotate 180° - relative to the second apparatus'"'"'s base, (iv) the second apparatus'"'"'s conveying mechanism to convey the second and third glass panes into the position between the second apparatus'"'"'s opposed side panels, (v) the second apparatus'"'"'s securing mechanism to (A) press one edge of the first glass pane together with the one edge of the second glass pane and the one edge of the third glass pane such that the first-pane spacer contacts the second glass pane and (B) release the first glass pane, and (vi) the second apparatus'"'"'s conveying mechanism to convey the first, second, and third glass panes through the second apparatus.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
33. A method of constructing triple-pane insulating glass units, the method comprising:
-
(a) conveying a first glass pane into a position between two opposed side panels of an assembly apparatus, a first-pane spacer being coupled to one major surface of the first glass pane; (b) securing the first glass pane on an opposite major surface of the first glass pane with the assembly apparatus; (c) rotating at least part of the assembly apparatus 180°
, thereby causing the first glass pane to rotate 180°
;(d) conveying second and third glass panes into the position between the two opposed side panels of the assembly apparatus, a third-pane spacer being coupled to one major surface of the third glass pane, one edge of the second glass pane being pressed together with one edge of the third glass pane such that the third-pane spacer contacts the second glass pane; (e) pressing one edge of the first glass pane together with the one edge of the second glass pane and the one edge of the third glass pane such that the first-pane spacer contacts the second glass pane; f) releasing the first glass pane; and (g) conveying the first, second, and third glass panes out of the position between the opposed side panels of the assembly apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
Specification