In-Line Tunnel Oven and Method for Treating Insulating Glass Units
First Claim
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1. A method of treating an insulating glass unit having a suspended film therein, comprising:
- providing an insulating glass unit having a suspended film therein and a sealant thereon;
raising a temperature of said glass unit to a first elevated temperature above an ambient temperature;
maintaining said glass unit at said first elevated temperature for a sufficient time to cure said sealant;
raising a temperature of said glass unit to a second elevated temperature above said first elevated temperature;
maintaining said glass unit at said second elevated temperature for sufficient time to thermally shrink said suspended film to a point of being optically clear; and
cooling the insulating glass unit to said ambient temperature.
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Abstract
A thermal treatment method for insulating glass units or IGUs having one or more suspended polymer films includes first curing a sealant at a first elevated temperature for a specified duration, then shrinking the suspended film at a second, higher, elevated temperature for a specified duration, and then cooling the IGUs back to ambient temperature. The various heating and cooling stages may be performed in a tunnel oven having different length sections at the desired temperatures, while the IGUs are conveyed from one section to the next.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of treating an insulating glass unit having a suspended film therein, comprising:
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providing an insulating glass unit having a suspended film therein and a sealant thereon; raising a temperature of said glass unit to a first elevated temperature above an ambient temperature; maintaining said glass unit at said first elevated temperature for a sufficient time to cure said sealant; raising a temperature of said glass unit to a second elevated temperature above said first elevated temperature; maintaining said glass unit at said second elevated temperature for sufficient time to thermally shrink said suspended film to a point of being optically clear; and cooling the insulating glass unit to said ambient temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A tunnel oven, comprising:
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a conveyor for transporting an insulating glass unit having a suspended film therein and a sealant thereon; a loading lobby for placing an insulating glass unit on said conveyor;
said conveyor transporting said insulating glass unit through;a first section for raising a temperature of said glass unit to a first elevated temperature above an ambient temperature; a second section for maintaining said glass unit at said first elevated temperature for a sufficient time to cure said sealant; a third section for raising a temperature of said glass unit to a second elevated temperature above said first elevated temperature; a fourth section for maintaining said glass unit at said second elevated temperature for sufficient time to thermally shrink said suspended film to a point of being reflectively flat; a fifth section for cooling the insulating glass unit to said ambient temperature; and an exit lobby for removing said insulating glass unit from said conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification