A system for reducing the effect of a force includes a panel having a first side and a second side; a plurality of contact members disposed around a perimeter of the panel first side; and a biasing member positioned around a perimeter of the panel second side. The perimeter of the panel second side generally corresponds to the perimeter of the panel first side. The biasing member biases the contact members toward the panel first side. In a use configuration, a force received by the panel second side is at least partially transferred to the contact members causing at least one of the contact members to temporarily lose contact with the panel first side, whereby the return of the contact member into contact with the panel first side imparts a second force onto the panel first side, the second force being less than the force transferred to the contact members.

An insulating glass unit (IGU) assembly line capable of interleaving double and triple pane IGUs in accordance with an IOU 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.

A Vacuum Insulating Glazing Unit (VIGU) comprises two or more glass lites (panes) spaced apart from one another and hermetically bonded to an edge seal assembly therebetween. The resulting cavity between the lites is evacuated to create at least one insulating vacuum cavity within which are disposed a plurality of stand-off members to maintain separation between the lites. The edge seal assembly is preferably compliant in the longitudinal (i.e., edgewise) direction to allow longitudinal relative motion between the two lites (e.g., from thermal expansion). The longitudinal compliance may be obtained by imprinting a three-dimensional pattern into the edge seal material. The edge seal assembly is preferably bonded to the lites with a first bond portion that is hermetic and a second bond portion that is load-resistant. Methods for producing VIGUs and/or compliant edge seal assemblies and VIGU and edge seal apparatus are disclosed.

An insulating glass unit (IGU) assembly line apparatus 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.

An assembly and method of drawing differing types of sheet stock through one or more assembly stations to make a spacer frame that is used in an insulating glass unit is disclosed. The assembly and method include fabrication of a spacer frame having a recess formation in a portion of a peripheral wall of a connecting structure that allows two ends of the spacer frame to form a lateral connection. The assembly and method further include feeding along a process axis formed by a path of travel of the material an elongated length of sheet stock into a feeder press and a roll former, both having translating rollers that move transversely to the process axis to accommodate different materials used in the sheet stock. The assembly and method also include a swaging assembly for forming a recess formation in a portion of the peripheral wall of the spacer frame.

A door assembly including a first glass pane, a second glass pane, and a spacer positioned between the first glass pane and the second glass pane such that the first pane and the second pane are separated by the spacer. The door assembly also includes an element that is coupled to the first glass pane and the second glass pane and positioned exterior of the spacer. The spacer and the element cooperate to at least partially define a seal passage, and a clear material is disposed in the seal passage to seal the space, the clear material configured to provide structural support to the assembly.