A process includes the assembling of an insulating glazing subassembly which includes a spacer frame and at least one central glass sheet, the spacer frame being formed of four profiles angularly assembled at their ends, where each profile has a groove for receiving one edge of the central glass sheet. The assembling of the insulating glazing subassembly includes successive steps wherein: the four edges of the central glass sheet are inserted into the grooves of the four profiles; the ends of the profiles are assembled by welding at each corner of the spacer frame without an alignment bracket, using the edges of the central glass sheet inserted in the grooves of the profiles as a frame of reference for guiding the profiles at each corner of the spacer frame into a configuration where their end faces are aligned by superposition in one and the same plane.

An air-floating transfer apparatus for manufacturing insulated glazing units (IGUs). The apparatus includes a frame arranged at a certain angle on one side of a conveyor belt, a support for the frame, and an air pump supplying air to the frame. The frame comprises multiple rows of air blowers that expel air towards one surface of the glass being transported by the operation of the air pump, and between these multiple rows of air blowers, there are arranged multiple rows of exhaust support plates with exhaust holes formed at regular intervals to selectively exhaust air discharged from the air blowers. Additionally, the device includes an opening and closing unit that opens or closes the exhaust holes of the exhaust support plates depending on the thickness of the glass being transported.

Provided are a glass transportation apparatus and a system including the glass transportation apparatus for manufacturing a multi-pane glass unit. The glass transportation apparatus includes a plate including a main surface facing a main surface of a glass pane, a gas blowing device configured to blow a gas towards the main surface of the glass pane such that the main surface of the glass pane is spaced apart from the main surface of the plate, and a conveyer including a belt having an upper surface and a plurality of pulleys configured to circulate the belt.

A high speed parallel manufacturing line for manufacturing insulated glass units, the manufacturing line including a gas filling topping press that mates a spacer applied lite supplied to the topping press and a topping lite supplied to the topping press to create an insulated glass unit and fills the insulated glass unit with a non-air gas. A heating station applies localized heat to adhesive of the spacer material. A sealing press applies pressure to the insulated glass unit and facilitates further sealing of the spacer material to the spacer applied lite and the topping lite. The line may include a fourth corner sealer that completes sealing of the airspace of the IGU prior to finishing of the IGU.

Provided are a glass transportation apparatus and a system including the glass transportation apparatus for manufacturing a multi-pane glass unit. The glass transportation apparatus includes a plate including a main surface facing a main surface of a glass pane, a gas blowing device configured to blow a gas towards the main surface of the glass pane such that the main surface of the glass pane is spaced apart from the main surface of the plate, and a conveyer including a belt having an upper surface and a plurality of pulleys configured to circulate the belt.

The present invention relates to a method of handling a vacuum insulated glass (VIG) unit assembly for a vacuum insulated glass unit, wherein the vacuum insulated glass (VIG) unit assembly comprises: a first glass sheet. a plurality of support structures on an upward facing major surface of the first glass sheet, wherein the 5method comprises the steps of: handling the VIG unit assembly by physically contacting the VIG unit assembly by one or more contact surface(s) of a handling system, and providing humidity control of ambient air surrounding the VIG unit assembly, wherein the humidity control is provided by a humidity control system providing a relative humidity of the ambient air above a minimum threshold level of 103%, such as 35%, or such as 40%.

A process for the construction and application of a rigid spacer frame for insulating glass involves preparing segments of the rigid spacer frame, applying a butyl sealant to sides of the segments facing in use glass sheets, storing the segments at a warehouse, assembling the segments to form the rigid spacer frame at an apparatus for the construction and application of the spacer frame, the apparatus having a support movable in vertical direction between a lowered assembly start position and a raised assembly end position and arranged with references for the segments. The process further involves positioning the movable support at a height so as to allow positioning of the rigid spacer frame at a surface of a glass sheet arranged on a support surface of the apparatus, and positioning the rigid spacer frame at the surface of the glass sheet.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to evacuation and sealing techniques for VIG units, and/or multi-chamber vacuum ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a VIG assembly is inserted into a multi-chamber apparatus to successively reduce the chamber pressure and thus the pressure between substrates comprising the VIG assembly until a final evacuation pressure is reached. Once the final evacuation pressure is reached, a pump-out port or tube of the VIG assembly is sealed forming a VIG unit while the VIG assembly is still in the vacuum chamber. After sealing, chamber pressures are gradually increased to atmospheric while the gap between the substrates of the VIG unit remains at a pressure less than atmospheric which is close to the final evacuation pressure.

The technology disclosed herein generally relate to assembly equipment for window units. In one embodiment, a window unit assembly system is taught that has a frame component that is configured to support equipment for a window unit assembly line. A pane conveyor is supported by the frame component and is configured to move panes along the window unit assembly line. A spacer conveyor is supported by the same frame component as the pane conveyor and is configured to move spacer elements along the window unit assembly line.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to evacuation and sealing techniques for VIG units, and/or multi-chamber vacuum ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a VIG assembly is inserted into a multi-chamber apparatus to successively reduce the chamber pressure and thus the pressure between substrates comprising the VIG assembly until a final evacuation pressure is reached. Once the final evacuation pressure is reached, a pump-out port or tube of the VIG assembly is sealed forming a VIG unit while the VIG assembly is still in the vacuum chamber. After sealing, chamber pressures are gradually increased to atmospheric while the gap between the substrates of the VIG unit remains at a pressure less than atmospheric which is close to the final evacuation pressure.