When being sealed, insulating glass blanks (5) are held in a sealing station (2) gripped at the base by grippers (17) of a gripper arrangement (16) and/or by suction heads (15) and rest at the top against a roller beam (7) fitted with rollers (8). As the insulating glass blank (5) is sealed, only the nozzle (11) of a sealing assembly (10) moves along the outer edge of the insulating glass blank (5), which is stationary during the sealing process. When the lower edge of an insulating glass blank (5) is sealed, grippers (17) engaging the lower edge are released and move away downwards. Sealed insulating glass is removed from the sealing station (2) by a removal robot (24) onto the side opposite the sealing assembly (10), moved to a temporary store and placed therein on A-bearing supports (29) and fan frames (30) sorted according to production lots.

When being sealed, insulating glass blanks (5) are held in a sealing station (2) gripped at the base by grippers (17) of a gripper arrangement (16) and/or by suction heads (15) and rest at the top against a roller beam (7) fitted with rollers (8). As the insulating glass blank (5) is sealed, only the nozzle (11) of a sealing assembly (10) moves along the outer edge of the insulating glass blank (5), which is stationary during the sealing process. When the lower edge of an insulating glass blank (5) is sealed, grippers (17) engaging the lower edge are released and move away downwards. Sealed insulating glass is removed from the sealing station (2) by a removal robot (24) onto the side opposite the sealing assembly (10), moved to a temporary store and placed therein on A-bearing supports (29) and fan frames (30) sorted according to production lots.

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 method and a device for assembling a triple insulating glass pane containing two outer glasses and a thin glass between them is disclosed. A standing thin glass is conveyed into a first pressing station. A first flexible spacer strand is applied to a first outer glass, which is then joined to the thin glass in the first pressing station. A second flexible spacer strand is applied to the second outer glass. The glass assembly is conveyed upstandingly to a turning station, where it is turned about an upstanding axis of rotation. After turning, the glass assembly is conveyed upstandingly from the rotation station into a second pressing station. The second outer glass is conveyed upstandingly through the first pressing station and the rotation station into the second pressing station. Then, the glass assembly and the second outer glass are joined together to form a triple insulating glass pane.

Conveying elements (10) are used for moving insulation glass blanks (1) prior to, during and after sealing the blanks, the conveying elements (10) including supports (12) that support and move the insulation glass blank. The supports (12) on the conveying elements (10) are oriented relative to the insulation glass blank (1) in such a way that no supports (12) are in contact with the insulation glass blank in the region of corners (20) of the insulation glass blank (1), i.e. where sealing compound (2) can project from the outer periphery of the insulation glass blank (1).

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.

A power tool including a conduit extending between an air inlet and an air outlet; a first axial fan disposed within the conduit to generate airflow through the conduit from the air inlet to the air outlet; a second fan disposed within the conduit; and a stator disposed in the conduit with at least a portion of the stator disposed at a location between the first axial fan and the second fan, wherein the stator comprises a plurality of vanes having noise reduction features.

A heating station for use with, for example, a high speed parallel manufacturing line for manufacturing insulated glass units, the heating station including at least two opposing infrared heaters that linearly heat spacer material that includes integrated temperature sensitive adhesive. Each of multiple linear infrared heaters includes a respective associated temperature sensor. The infrared heater and temperature sensor are coupled to a spacer heating controller that controls intensity and/or duration of heating of the spacer material and adhesive to provide optimal wetting and adhesive qualities. Individual control of the at least two opposing linear infrared heaters compensates for variable environmental conditions affecting spacer material at different locations around and insulated glass unit.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a multiple-pane insulating glazing unit having a between-pane space. An aerogel layer is located in the between-pane space. Further, some embodiments of the invention provide a method of manufacturing such a multiple-pane insulating glazing unit. Still further, some embodiments provide a glazing assembly comprising a frame and a multiple-pane insulating glazing unit that includes an aerogel layer and is mounted in the frame. Finally, some embodiments provide a method of handling an aerogel sheet.