Assembly equipment line for windows

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The technology disclosed herein relates generally to assembly equipment. In particular, the technology disclosed herein relates to assembly equipment for window units.

SUMMARY [0002] The technology disclosed herein relates generally to assembly equipment for window units. An example of this type of assembly equipment is disclosed in DE2352835. This document presents all the features of the preamble of claim 1. According to the invention, the window unit assembly system has a frame element that is configured to support the equipment for the window unit assembly line. The frame element is supported by a glazing conveyor, which is configured to move the panes along the assembly line of the window units. The same frame element that supports the glass conveyor also supports the spacer conveyor, being configured to move the spacer elements along the assembly line of the window units.

[0003] In the preferred embodiment described here, the window unit assembly has a frame member housed in the assembly line of the window units. The glass conveyor is supported by a frame element and is configured to move the panes along the assembly line of the window units in the first direction. The spacer conveyor is configured to move the spacer elements along the assembly line of the window units in the second direction, where the second direction is directly opposite to the first direction.

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[0004] In yet another preferred embodiment, the technology disclosed herein relates to a window unit assembly system that has a plurality of frame elements configured to support the equipment for the window units assembly line. A group of glass conveyors, each of which is supported by one of the frame elements, is configured to move the panes along the assembly line of the window units. A group of spacer conveyors, each supported by one of the frame elements, is configured to move the spacer elements along the assembly line of the window units. The group of frame members includes a first frame element and at least a second frame element. The first frame element supports both one of the numerous glass conveyors and one of the numerous spacer conveyors,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005]

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a window assembly.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the window assembly of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a spacer that can be used with the window assembly of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a spacer having a plurality of notches.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the spacer of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of a window unit system for mounting a window unit.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a window unit system for mounting a window unit.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an approximate part of the window unit system of Fig. 7.

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Fig. 9 shows a front view of the window unit system of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a window assembly system for mounting a window unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0006] A detailed reference is now made to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Yes, where possible, the same reference numbers were used in the drawings to identify the same or similar structures.

[0007] Described here are a number of machines and a system of these machines that will allow window manufacturers to save valuable floor space in the manufacture of window assemblies by combining the processing of both glass panes, such as glass panes and spacer materials on a single assembly line structure. In one embodiment, the glazing units are loaded and processed using glass conveyors, and the spacer is loaded and machined using spacer conveyors, and the spacer conveyors are mounted on the same frame elements as the window conveyors. As a result, a separate line for machining the spacer is not required and a valuable floor space is saved. In addition, no separate frame elements are required, so that the cost of assembly equipment is reduced.

[0008] In one embodiment, the spacer conveyors move the spacer in a first direction along the assembly line during machining, while the window conveyors move the glass in the second opposite direction along the assembly line during machining. In one embodiment, the second direction is inverted 180 degrees from the first direction or is directly opposite thereto. The glass panes and the spacer are moved along the assembly line in opposite directions until they meet in the spacer application unit that secures the spacer to at least one pane.

[0009] The basic structure of a window assembly will now be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

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V13446EN00 / KK [0010] Referring now to Fig. 1, a window assembly 10 is shown. The window unit 10 includes a first glass panel 12, a second glass window 14 and a spacer 16 located between the first glass and the second glass 12, 14. In the present embodiment, the first the pane and the second pane 12, 14 are adapted to allow at least part of the light to pass through the panes 12, 14. The first pane and the second pane 12, 14 are made of translucent or transparent material. In the present embodiment, the first pane and the second pane 12, 14 are made of glass. In another embodiment, the first pane and the second pane 12, 14 are made of plastic.

[0011] Referring now to Fig. 2, the first pane 12 comprises a first surface 18 and an opposing second surface 20. The second pane 14 includes a first surface 22 and a second face 24 situated opposite.

[0012] Spacer 16 is located between the first pane and the second pane 12, 14 to hold the first pane and the second pane 12, 14 away from each other. The spacer 16 is shaped in the form of a spacer frame. Spacer 16 is adapted to withstand compressive loads exerted on the first pane and second pane 12, 14 and to maintain the desired space between the first pane and the second pane 12, 14.

[0013] The spacer 16 is sealed to both the first glass and the second glass 12, 14 at the edge portion 26 of both the first glass pane and the second pane 12,

14. The edge part 26 adheres to the outer circumference of the windows. In the embodiment shown, the spacer 16 is sealed to the second surface 20 of the first pane 12 and the second surface 24 of the second pane 14.

[0014] Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate one possible embodiment of a window unit unit that can be made using the methods and equipment described herein. However, other units of window units can also be produced using the methods and equipment described herein. For example, a three-glazed window unit can also be produced using a variety of techniques described herein.

[0015] Referring now to Fig. 3, one embodiment of the spacer 16 is shown. There are a number of multiple spacer options suitable for use with the window assembly 10 and some have been described in other patent applications and patents that are incorporated herein by reference. .

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V13446EN00 / KK [0016] Spacer 16 includes a first material belt 30 and a second material belt 32. The first belt and the second belt 30, 32 are generally flexible in terms of both bending and twisting. In some embodiments, the flexural flexibility allows the spacer 16 to be bent to form non-linear shapes (e.g., curves). Flexibility for bending and twisting also allows for easy window production. Such flexibility includes elastic or plastic deformation, such that the first belt and the second belt 30, 32 do not break during installation in the window assembly 10. Some embodiments of the spacer 16 comprise belts that have no substantial flexibility but are rather substantially rigid. In some embodiments, the first belt and the second belt 30, 32 are flexible,

[0017] In one embodiment, the first belt and the second belt 30, 32 are made of metal or plastic. In the embodiment shown, both the first belt and the second belt 30, 32 have a plurality of corrugations 34. The first belt 30 includes a first side portion 36 and an opposing second side portion 38. The first belt 30 further comprises a first surface 40 and an opposing second surface 42. The second belt 32 includes a first side portion 44 and an oppositely located second side part 46. The second belt 32 further comprises a first surface 48 and an opposing second surface 50.

[0018] The second belt 32 includes a plurality of passage 52 that extends through the first and second surfaces 48, 50 of the second belt 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the flights 52 are generally aligned along a central longitudinal axis 54 of the second belt 32. Other embodiments include other arrangements 52, such as a plurality of 52 flight rows. The flights may be openings or openings of any shape including slots, round openings and the like.

[0019] The spacer 16 includes a first side wall 56 and a second side wall 58. The first side wall and the second side wall 56, 58 extend between the first belt 30 and the second band 32. In the embodiment shown, the first side wall 56 is connected to the first side wall 56. the side portion 36 on the first surface 40 of the first belt 30 and the second side 44 on the first surface 48 of the second belt 32. In one embodiment, the first side wall and the second side wall 56, 58 extend over the length of the first belt and the second belt 30, 32.

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V13446EN00 / KK [0020] Both the first longitudinal belt and the second longitudinal belt 30, 32 comprise a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The first longitudinal edge is provided on the edge of the first side portion 36, 44 of each belt, and the second longitudinal edge is located on the edge of the second side portion 38, 46 of each belt. The embossed first side wall 56 is positioned closer to the first side portion 36, 44 of each belt 30, 32 than the second side portion 38, 46 of each belt 30, 32. The first side wall 56 is offset from the first edge of the longitudinal first belt 30 and from the first longitudinal edge a second belt 32 with a first displacement distance. The embossed second side wall 58 is located closer to the second side portion 38, 46 of each belt 30, 32 than the first side portion 36, 44 of each belt 30, 32.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first side wall and the second side wall 56, 58 are manufactured from plastic. The plastic may be extruded, rolled, or molded to form a first side wall and a second side wall 56, 58.

[0022] The first belt and the second belt 30, 32 and the first side wall and the second side wall 56, 58 together define an inner area 60 of the spacer 16. In one embodiment, a filling material is added to the inner area 60. An exemplary filler material that can be added to the inner region 60 is and / or contains a desiccant material. In the presence of moisture between the first glass and the second glass 12, 14 (Figures 1 and 2), the moisture passes through the flights 52 of the second strip 32 and is absorbed by the drying material in the inner region 60 of the spacer 16.

The first side part 36 of the first belt 30, the first side wall 56 and the first side part 44 of the second belt 32 together define the first side 62 of the spacer 16. The second side 38 of the first belt 30, the second side wall 58 and the second side part 46 of the second belt 32 together define the second side 64 of the spacer 16. The inner region 60 is located between the first side and the second side 62, 64 of the spacer 16.

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V13446EN00 / KK [0024] In the assembly system described herein, a plurality of additional embodiments of the spacer can be used, including spacers made, for example, of foam. The embodiment of the spacer of Fig. 3 is only one example of a spacer that can be used in the assembly system described herein.

[0025] In some embodiments of the window unit system, a spacer section is provided to the mounting system that is wound on the storage reel. The distance of the spacer on the reel is much longer than necessary for the assembly of each individual window unit. In one embodiment, the winding distance of the spacer is continuously wrapped around the storage reel. During the window assembly process, the wound spacer section is unwound and cut into individual spacer pieces 202, such as shown in Fig. 4, having a first end 204 and a second end 206. In one embodiment, each individual spacer 202 is dimensioned to be bent to form a spacer frame that adjoins the entire perimeter of the window unit 10 (Fig. 1). In one embodiment, the spacer 202 may include corner slits 210, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, to facilitate bending of the spacer 202 in the corners of the window unit. In other embodiments, each of the individual spacers is dimensioned so as to be arranged along a single side of the window unit.

[0026] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the incisions 210 are generally V-shaped. Each incision 210 extends through the second belt 32, the first side wall and the second side wall 56, 58 and up partially through the first surface 40 of the first. In the embodiment shown, the incision 210 determines an angle which is about 90 degrees, although the angle of the corner cut 210 may have other values, depending on the desired angle of the resulting corner in the formed spacer frame.

[0027] Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a series of machines arranged in a window mounting system 600. System 600 contains many machines, which can be roughly divided into two types of equipment: spacer machining equipment and window unit assembly equipment. The spacer machining equipment generally only operates on the spacer to prepare the spacer to be included in the window unit, which can also be referred to as a glass unit. Equipment 7

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V13446PL00 / KK assembly of the window unit generally works on the glass, connects the panes with the spacer to form subassemblies, works on subassemblies to form window units, and also acts on window units. The spacer machining equipment is provided with spacer spacer elements 602 to move the spacer from the machine to the machine. The window unit installation equipment is provided with window glass conveyors 604, which move the material panes from the machine to the machine, and then move the assembled window unit from the machine to the machine for further processing. Certain pieces of equipment, such as a spacer application unit, can be described as both spacer machining equipment and window unit fitting equipment.

[0028] In one embodiment, the spacer conveyors 602 move the spacer in the first direction indicated by the arrow 606 along the assembly line 600 during machining, while the window conveyors 604 move the panes and window units in the second opposite direction indicated by the arrow 608 during machining. In the embodiment of Figs. 6-9, the second direction is inverted 180 degrees from the first direction or is directly opposite thereto. The panes and spacer are moved along the assembly line in opposite directions as they pass the machining steps until they meet in the spacer application unit 620. The spacer application unit 620 assembles the individual spacer section into the spacer frame and applies the spacer frame to the subassembly window / spacer.

[0029] The assembly system 600 has a first end 601 and a second end 603. In one embodiment, the glazing units are introduced at the first end 601 and also the glass conveyors 604 are present at the first end 601 and follow the second direction 608. In one embodiment, the spacers are introduced at the second end 603 and the spacer 606 conveyors are present at the other end 603 and follow in the first direction 606.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a window unit assembly system 600. The arrows 606, 608 indicating the direction of movement of the respective spacers and panes, respectively, are shown in Fig. 7. The spacer conveyors 602 and glass conveyors 604 are also indicated in Fig. 7, although in the representation of Fig. 7 they are small. Assembly line 600 machines are supported by 8

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V13446PL00 / KK frame elements 622 shown in Fig. 7, which are arranged along the assembly line. In one embodiment, at least some of the spacer conveyors 602 and glass conveyors 604 are supported by the same frame elements 622.

[0031] Fig. 8 is a close-up view of one part of the frame member 622, where the same frame member 622 supports both the spacer conveyor 602 and the window elevator 604. As a result, no separate line for machining the spacer is required and valuable floor space is saved. In addition, no separate frame elements are required, so that the cost of assembly equipment is reduced. The conveyor is any type of mechanical device that moves the items from place to place. One example of the conveyor, which is illustrated in Fig. 8, comprises two or more pulleys and a continuous loop of material that rotates around these wheels. Many other conveyor options can be used in the embodiments described herein.

[0032] In the embodiment of Figs. 7-9, the spacer conveyors are mounted under the glass conveyors. Other distributions are also possible, such as spacer conveyors mounted over glass conveyors.

[0033] Fig. 9 shows a front view of the window unit assembly system 600 of Fig. 7. Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 9, examples of machines included in the window assembly system 600 will be discussed. However, these examples should not be considered as limiting, as many different machine types can be present on the window assembly line. The patents and patent applications incorporated herein by reference provide additional examples and further descriptions of machines that can be included in a window unit assembly system.

[0034] First, some examples of distancing equipment will be provided. One example of the spacer machining equipment is a development station 630 for developing a spacer section from a longer wound spacer section on the reel 632 for placement in the window unit. The spacer machining equipment may also include a punching station 636 for punching corner cuts in the spacer section and cutting the ends of the spacer section to separate a single spacer section from the wound spacer. In some embodiments, an extrusion station 638 is used to extrude the sealant onto the spacer. For spacer 16

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V13446EN00 / KK shown in Fig. 3, the sealant is extruded into recesses present on the first side 62 and the second side 64 of the spacer 16. The spacer with the sealant is transferred to the spacer positioning station 620. In one embodiment, the spacer positioning station 620 wraps a spacer around the structure holding the spacer to form the spacer to form the spacer frame. The spacer frame can have a rectangular shape or other closed shape. The spacer positioning station 620 then applies the wrapped spacer to the window pane which is located on the window pane at the spacer position stand 620.

[0035] In one embodiment, the spacer conveyors 602 are present from the second end 603 of the line 600 of the system to the spacer position 620. In the embodiment of Figs. 6-9, the extrusion station 638 is in the same location as another piece of window assembly equipment, such as buffer station 660. Both the spacer conveyors 602 and the window conveyors 604 are present in the connection of the extrusion station 638 and buffer 660. With the flow of the spacer in the first direction 606, the extrusion station 638 is located above the spacer positioning station 620, but not above all of the rest of the window unit fitting equipment. This aspect contradicts the embodiment of Fig. 10,

[0036] Examples will now be given of the assembly equipment of the window unit starting at one end of the assembly line and passing in the second direction indicated by the arrow 608. The system 600 includes a skin removal station 650, where edge coatings, charging station 656 can be removed from the window panes, where the glazing can be loaded onto the glazing conveyor 604, and also the vertical dishwasher 658, where the panes can be washed. Although only one is shown in the schematic drawing of Fig. 6, the system may comprise several buffer conveyor units 660, which are illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9 and which may be located between some other machines. Buffer conveyor units 660 serve to hold the pane on glass conveyors 604 in readiness for the next process step.

[0037] The window is fed through the window glass conveyors 604 from the first end 601 of the system 600 to the spacer position 620, where the pane is connected to the spacer frame, in one embodiment to form a subassembly

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V13446PL00 / KK glass / spacer. The subassembly glass / spacer is moved in the second direction of arrow 608 to subsequent process machines. One example of such a machine is a rostrum station 664 that applies slat bars or other structures that will be positioned between the first pane and the second pane, on the windshield / spacer subassembly, if this is appropriate for the window being mounted. The subassembly glass / spacer then passes to the assembly station 668, where a second glazing is mounted to the spacer to form the window unit. The window unit passes to the buffer conveyor station 660, which is held on the same frame member 622 as the seal extrusion station 638. Then the window unit goes to the gas filling station 670, which fills the space between the first glass and the second glass with the selected gas or gas mixture. Then, the window unit passes to the pressing station 672, where it is pressed to a predetermined thickness. The pressure exerted at this stage moistens the sealant connections within the window assembly. Then, the window unit passes to a second sealing station 674 where a sealant is applied on the circumference of the window unit adjacent the spacer 16 (Fig. 1). Finally, the window unit goes to unloading station 676, where the window unit can be unloaded. In one embodiment, the window glass conveyors 604 are arranged along the system line 600 from the first end 601 to the unloading station 676, and are not present at the punching station 636 or the spacer development station 630,

[0038] Fig. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment 1000 of a window unit assembly system. System 1000 has many elements in common with the system 600 of Figs. 7-9, and similar reference numbers have been used to designate similar elements. In the system 1000, the extrusion station 638, which applies the sealant to the spacer before it is applied to the window, is in a different position compared to the synthesis signal 600. In the system 600, the extrusion station 638 is positioned on the same frame member 622 as the buffer conveyor 660 and between machines that are used to treat glass, subassemblies and window units. In system 600, the extrusion station 636 is located between the assembly station 668 and the gas filling station 670.

[0039] In system 1000, extrusion station 638 is located at one end of a row of window assembly equipment of the window unit that is used for

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V13446PL00 / KK for processing windows, subassemblies and window units. Similar to the system 600, in the system 1000 the spacer moves along the spacer elements in the first direction indicated by the arrow 606, while the glass, subassemblies and window units slide in the second direction indicated by the arrow 608. The spacer conveyors transport the spacer with the sealant from the extrusion station 638 to the position 620 of applying the spacer, where the spacer is shaped to form the spacer frame and applied to the window. Similar to the 600 system, in the 1000 system, many spacer and glass conveyor conveyors are located on the common frame elements 622.

[0040] Various modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the scope of the present disclosure, and it is to be understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.