The invention provides an IG unit that includes two glass sheets and an aerogel sheet located between the two glass sheets. The aerogel sheet is adhered to an interior surface of one of the two glass sheets by an adhesive, such that a face of the aerogel sheet is carried alongside the interior surface and has a portion that is devoid of the adhesive. In some cases, the adhesive is outside a vision area of the unit. In some cases, the adhesive securing the aerogel sheet to the interior surface is in contact with the first face of the aerogel sheet, and the adhesive contacts less than 10% of the first face of the aerogel sheet. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a glazing assembly that includes a frame and an IG unit mounted in the frame such that a vision area of the glazing assembly is located inwardly of the frame.

Method for the production of a vacuum insulated glazing unit with more than two panes and a vacuum insulated glazing unit with more than two panes. In one example a triple pane vacuum insulated glazing assembly is fused and the cavity is backfilled during cooling whereby the centre pane temperature may be lowered. This has the advantage of keeping the stresses below the failure boundaries and enabling faster production.

A high-strength translucent structures that can be used in industrial and civil construction serving as facade or window structures, as well as for filling gaps in ceilings or raised floors with translucent elements, in the structures of separate sections of both walls and zenith skylights of buildings in required spatial altitude. The translucent enclosing structure includes glass units wherein the sheets of glass are hermetically connected to each other and fixed relative to each other by an internal rigid strengthening profile and a spacer frame, and the glass units are additionally provided with an external strengthening profile of Π-shaped cross-section in the form of a pultruded profile made of glass-plastic. There has been created a sufficiently strong and, therefore, reliable, durable, and cheap translucent enclosing structure designed for use in industrial and civil buildings.

Embodiments herein relate to methods and apparatus for preventing and mitigating the ingress of moisture into an interior region of an IGU. Various techniques are disclosed including, for example, the use of a strain relief structure around wires passing through a secondary seal, improved materials for coating the wires, and additional/improved layers for bonding the secondary seal to tape provided around a spacer.

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.

The invention provides automated spacer processing systems and methods. The systems and methods involve at least one robot arm that is configured to process spacers for multiple-pane insulating glazing units. In some embodiments, the systems also include an insulating glazing unit assembly line and a spacer conveyor system. Additionally or alternatively, the systems may include a sealant applicator.

An insulating glazing includes at least one first pane element, at least one spacer, and at least one connector. The spacer and the connector are arranged next to each other such that they extend along a common longitudinal axis, wherein the spacer and the connector accommodate and position the first pane element. The connector has at least one first electrically conductive conductor element such that an electrical connection can be established between an external power source and the first pane element via the first conductor element.

Embodiments described include bus bars for electrochromic or other optical state changing devices. The bus bars are configured to color match and/or provide minimal optical contrast with their surrounding environment in the optical device. Such bus bars may be transparent bus bars.

A method of vacuum sealing a sacrificial panel to a structural panel, such as to form a walkway, is disclosed. The method comprises providing a sacrificial panel having a first side and a second, opposing side, providing a plurality of dots, applying the plurality of dots in a spaced relationship onto the first side of the sacrificial panel, applying a double-sided tape about the periphery of the first side of the sacrificial panel, providing a structural panel, placing the structural panel onto the first side of the sacrificial panel, wherein the dots create a gap between the sacrificial layer and the structural layer, and the double-sided tape provides an airtight seal between the sacrificial layer and the structural layer. The method further comprises providing a needle coupled to a vacuum device, inserting the needle into the gap between the sacrificial layer and the structural layer and operating the vacuum device to remove air from the gap between the sacrificial layer and the structural layer.

Disclosed is a method of making a composite light diffusing panel, comprising providing a first glass lite with a light transmissive fabric layer applied to surface thereof; applying a primary sealant to the surface of the first glass lite using an edge referencing method to meet horizontal dimensional requirements; mounting a spacer to the primary sealant on the surface of the first glass lite to form a first subassembly; applying a primary sealant to the surface of a second glass lite also using an edge referencing method to form a second subassembly; and topping the second subassembly atop the first subassembly to form an assembled composite light diffusing panel. Also disclosed is a flipping apparatus that can be used in the method.