THERMAL TREATMENT OF PANE ELEMENTS FOR VACUUM INSULATING GLASS UNITS
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing a plurality of vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units,wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- providing a plurality of first glass panes,applying a soldering material in paste form to a first surface along side edges of the first glass panes, wherein the soldering material is arranged for subsequent connection with a second glass pane to provide a seal between an outside of the VIG unit and an inside void of the VIG unit,moving the first glass panes comprising the soldering material into a first thermal treatment compartment of a furnace arrangement, wherein the first thermal treatment compartment is pre-heated,drying the soldering material on the first glass panes in a heating step by evaporating solvent from the soldering material in the first thermal treatment compartment, wherein the heating is forced convection heating,moving the first glass panes from the first thermal treatment compartment to a cooling compartment of the furnace arrangement,cooling first glass panes and the soldering material thereon in a cooling step in the cooling compartment, wherein the cooling is by forced convection cooling,moving the first glass panes from the cooling compartment, andsubsequently connecting the first glass panes to second glass panes using the dried soldering material.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a plurality of vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units, wherein the method comprises providing a plurality of first glass panes, applying a soldering material arranged for subsequent connection with a second glass pane to provide a seal between an outside of the VIG unit and an inside void of the VIG unit, moving the first glass panes comprising the soldering material into a treatment compartment, wherein the treatment compartment is pre-heated, drying the soldering material in a heating step by evaporating solvent, wherein the heating is forced convection heating, moving the first glass panes to a cooling compartment, cooling first glass panes and the soldering material thereon in a cooling step, wherein the cooling is by forced convection cooling, moving the first glass panes from the cooling compartment, and subsequently connecting the first glass panes to second glass panes using the dried soldering material.
2 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing a plurality of vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units,
wherein the method comprises the steps of: -
providing a plurality of first glass panes, applying a soldering material in paste form to a first surface along side edges of the first glass panes, wherein the soldering material is arranged for subsequent connection with a second glass pane to provide a seal between an outside of the VIG unit and an inside void of the VIG unit, moving the first glass panes comprising the soldering material into a first thermal treatment compartment of a furnace arrangement, wherein the first thermal treatment compartment is pre-heated, drying the soldering material on the first glass panes in a heating step by evaporating solvent from the soldering material in the first thermal treatment compartment, wherein the heating is forced convection heating, moving the first glass panes from the first thermal treatment compartment to a cooling compartment of the furnace arrangement, cooling first glass panes and the soldering material thereon in a cooling step in the cooling compartment, wherein the cooling is by forced convection cooling, moving the first glass panes from the cooling compartment, and subsequently connecting the first glass panes to second glass panes using the dried soldering material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for manufacturing a plurality of vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
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providing a plurality of first glass panes; applying a soldering material in paste form on a first surface of each first glass pane along side edges, wherein the soldering material is configured for subsequent connection with a second glass pane to provide a seal between the outside of the VIG unit and an inside void of the VIG unit where vacuum is to be provided, moving the first glass panes comprising the soldering material into a thermal treatment compartment; providing a thermal treatment to the soldering material to evaporate a solvent from the soldering material; moving the first glass panes from the thermal treatment compartment; and subsequently connecting the first glass panes to the second glass panes using the dried soldering material, wherein a gas convection treatment process is provided during the thermal treatment step, wherein the gas convection treatment process comprises heat exchange between the first glass panes and the thermal treatment compartment by forced convection of a temperature controlled gas that is supplied to the first surface and/or a second surface of the first glass panes opposite to the first surface using a plurality of nozzles in the thermal treatment compartment directed towards the first and/or the second surfaces, and wherein the temperature controlled gas supplied during the gas convection treatment process is purified air. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification