The present invention deals with integrating methods for manufacturing and applying a spacer frame to a glass plate, particularly in the circumstance of increased sizes thereof, of the rigid type, i.e. which profiles essentially are formed by a hollow body having cross section close to the rectangular, micro-perforated in the wall facing the chamber of the insulating glass, where at least the wall facing the outer cavity intended for the secondary sealant is made of solid metal material or with a metal liner, the remaining walls or all the walls being capable of being made of plastic or metal, e.g. aluminum or stainless steel. Certain innovative elements of the devices implementing such methods are also claimed.

A system that can travel and rotate and is designed in the manner of an at least one-armed robot is used for handling spacer frames in the course of the production of insulating glass. The system grasps a spacer frame with a gripper system provided to rotate at the free end of the robot arm. A spacer frame is moved by the system to stations of a line for producing insulating glass. For example, a spacer frame is held in a station for producing spacer frames, moved to a station for filling the spacer frame, when the spacer frame is to be filled with hygroscopic material, then further moved to a station, in which the lateral surfaces of the spacer frame are coated with sealing and adhesive agents, and finally moved to a station for assembling insulating glass, in which the spacer frame is mounted on a glass panel.

An insulating glass unit cooling assembly and method of cooling an insulating glass unit is provided. The cooling assembly includes a cooling unit that directs air at insulating glass units and a conveyor that transports insulating glass units along a path of travel defining an axis of travel for the insulating glass units. The conveyor has a conveyor planar surface that supports a corresponding planar glass surface of the insulating glass units as the insulating glass units are conveyed along the axis of travel such that the planar surface of the insulating glass units are substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to the conveyor planar surface. The air from the cooling unit is directed in a path substantially parallel with the conveyor planar surface and the planar glass surface of the insulating glass units as the insulating glass units travel along the conveyor.

A device for filling spacer frames with hollow-section strips has a storage tank for free-flowing, hygroscopic fill material, such as a molecular sieve. A line that leads to the spacer frame to be filled extends from the storage tank and empties into a fill opening in the wall of the spacer frame. The amount of the fill material poured into the spacer frame is determined by the amount of the fill material removed from the storage tank being detected. The amount of the fill material removed from the storage tank is detected by measuring the travel of a piston that rests with pressure on the fill material in the storage tank. The degree of filling is verified by the amount of the fill material removed from the storage tank being compared to the preset amount of the fill material that is to be poured into the spacer frame.

Sealants for insulated glass units or solar panels are disclosed. The sealant comprises polyisobutylene and a polymer which is a copolymer obtained from the polymerisation of at least one ethylenically-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon monomer and at least one monomer containing a maleic anhydride moiety. The copolymer comprises at least one amphiphilic polymer side chain. Processes for producing the sealants for insulated glass units or solar panels are also disclosed. Insulted glass units and solar panels comprising the sealant are also disclosed. Processes for producing the insulated glass units and solar panels comprising the sealant are also disclosed.

An insulating glass unit cooling assembly and method of cooling an insulating glass unit is provided. The cooling assembly includes a cooling unit that directs air at insulating glass units and a conveyor that transports insulating glass units along a path of travel defining an axis of travel for the insulating glass units. The conveyor has a conveyor planar surface that supports a corresponding planar glass surface of the insulating glass units as the insulating glass units are conveyed along the axis of travel such that the planar surface of the insulating glass units are substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to the conveyor planar surface. The air from the cooling unit is directed in a path substantially parallel with the conveyor planar surface and the planar glass surface of the insulating glass units as the insulating glass units travel along the conveyor.

Sealants for insulated glass units or solar panels are disclosed. The sealant comprises polyisobutylene and a polymer which is a copolymer obtained from the polymerisation of at least one ethylenically-unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon monomer and at least one monomer containing a maleic anhydride moiety. The copolymer comprises at least one amphiphilic polymer side chain. Processes for producing the sealants for insulated glass units or solar panels are also disclosed. Insulted glass units and solar panels comprising the sealant are also disclosed. Processes for producing the insulated glass units and solar panels comprising the sealant are also disclosed.

A threaded insulating glass unit plug for sealing an aperture in a spacer frame of an insulating glass unit, method of assembly and installation is provided. The threaded insulating glass unit plug includes a head integrally formed with threaded body. The head has a recess formed for engaging a tool for installation during use. The body includes a cylindrical portion and a conical portion, the cylindrical portion spacing the conical portion from the head. A plurality of threads extend along the entire length of cylindrical portion.

A system that can travel and rotate and is designed in the manner of an at least one-armed robot is used for handling spacer frames in the course of the production of insulating glass. The system grasps a spacer frame with a gripper system provided to rotate at the free end of the robot arm. A spacer frame is moved by the system to stations of a line for producing insulating glass. For example, a spacer frame is held in a station for producing spacer frames, moved to a station for filling the spacer frame, when the spacer frame is to be filled with hygroscopic material, then further moved to a station, in which the lateral surfaces of the spacer frame are coated with sealing and adhesive agents, and finally moved to a station for assembling insulating glass, in which the spacer frame is mounted on a glass panel.

A method and a device for filling a spacer frame with a filler for producing an insulating glazing unit and a spacer frame produced in accordance with the method is disclosed. A fill time of the spacer frame for filling to a fill level of 100% is calculated and the spacer frame is inserted into a filling device with scales and a frame holder. The spacer frame is suspended in suspension devices, the spacer frame is filled for the calculated fill time, and the spacer frame is weighed, and the fill level is determined. If the fill level is larger than 90%, then the filling of the spacer frame is terminated.