Efficient assembly of insulating glass windows

摘要

An insulating glass unit (IGU) assembly line capable of interleaving double and triple pane IGUs in accordance with an IGU production schedule. Visual indicators or prompts instruct operators at the assembly line in configuring a sequence of IGUs. Triple pane IGUs are assembled with minimal contamination of a center glass lite. A non-contact Bernoulli pad is used to lift a glass lite off from a horizontal or vertical support that conveys it from a glass washer to an assembly station. Each of multiple pads has a capacity to lift approximately seven to ten pounds. Use of multiple pads per glass sheet or lite allows lites having dimensions up to 70 by 100 inches (assuming glass thickness of one quarter inch) to be assembled.

主权项

1. A method of assembling multi-pane insulating glass units (IGUs) comprising:
a) creating a manufacturing schedule for assembly of a plurality of insulating glass units from spacer frames and glass lites, said manufacturing schedule including both double pane insulating glass units and triple pane insulating glass units; b) providing conveyors for moving glass lites or panes along controlled travel paths to at least two different registration stations where lites are brought into registration with each other; and c) if the manufacturing schedule next designates assembly of a triple pane insulating glass unit, then:
i) moving a first outer glass lite and a first spacer frame registered with the first outer glass lite on a conveyor to a first registration station as a unit and registering a middle lite with the first spacer frame and first outer glass lite to form an intermediate IGU layer;ii) moving the intermediate IGU layer to a different registration station other than the first registration station, andiii) at the different registration station moving a second, outer lite and second spacer frame into registration with the intermediate IGU layer to form the triple pane insulating glass unit; or d) if the manufacturing schedule next designates assembly of a double pane insulating glass unit, then moving a first outer glass lite and a first spacer frame registered with the first outer glass lite to a selected one of the two registration stations where a second outer lite is brought into registration with the first spacer frame to form a double pane insulating glass unit.