A flexible spacer for an insulated translucent panel assembly. The flexible spacer includes a flexible thermoset extrudate formed from a two component flowable polymeric formulation and being a flowable mixture. One component carries a desiccant powder, and the other component is a catalyst for curing the extrudate. The flowable mixture is directly cast on to a vapor barrier web. The vapor barrier web includes a length and a width, the length being greater than the width. The vapor barrier web includes a corrugated sheet of material having a plurality of corrugations oriented generally orthogonal to the length of the vapor barrier web.

A method and apparatus for heating and/or pressing sealant of an insulating glass unit. The apparatus may include an oven and a press. The oven includes a detector that detects an optical property of the insulating glass unit. The detected optical property is used to regulate the amount of energy applied to the insulating glass unit to adjust the amount of energy applied to the sealant. The press may include a displacement transducer that detects a pre-pressed thickness of the insulating glass unit. The measured pre-pressed thickness is used to automatically select a press thickness from a set of pressed IGU thicknesses.

A glass panel unit includes: a first glass pane; a second glass pane facing the first glass pane; a frame member; an evacuated space; and a gas adsorbent. The frame member hermetically bonds the first glass pane and the second glass pane. The evacuated space is surrounded with the first glass pane, the second glass pane, and the frame member. The gas adsorbent is placed in the evacuated space. The gas adsorbent contains a getter material. The getter material contains a plurality of particles of a zeolite crystal. At least one particle accounting for a half or more of a total weight of the plurality of particles has a particle size equal to or greater than 200 nm. An activable temperature of the at least one particle is equal to or lower than 400° C.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to edge sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to techniques for providing localized heating to edge seals of units, and/or unitized ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a unit is pre-heated to one or more intermediate temperatures, localized heating via at least one substantially two-dimensional array of heat sources is provided proximate to the peripheral edges of the unit so as to melt fits placed thereon, and cooled. In certain non-limiting implementations, the pre-heating and/or cooling may be provided in one or more steps. An oven for accomplishing the same may include multiple zones for performing the above-noted steps, each zone optionally including one or more chambers. Accordingly, in certain example embodiments, a temperature gradient proximate to the edges of the unit is created, thereby reducing the chances of breakage and/or at least some de-tempering of the substrates.

A vacuum insulated glazing unit including a first glass pane and a second glass pane with inner surfaces opposing each other, a side seal material positioned between edges of the glass panes thereby forming a sealed cavity having a cavity pressure between the first glass pane and the second glass pane, a number of spacers positioned between the first glass pane and the second glass pane inside the sealed cavity, and at least one getter positioned inside the sealed cavity with a surface having an uneven surface structure, the uneven surface structure having a plurality of depressions, where each pair of two consecutive depressions are spaced apart with a depression distance being at the most 25 μm.

A vacuum insulated glazing unit and related methods, the unit including a first glass pane and a second glass pane with inner surfaces opposing each other, a side seal material positioned between edges of the glass panes thereby forming a sealed cavity having a cavity pressure between the first glass pane and the second glass pane, a number of spacers positioned between the first glass pane and the second glass pane inside the sealed cavity, and at least one getter having a surface with an increased surface area obtained by laser ablation with a pulsed laser emitting pulses with a pulse length of 500 picosecond or shorter.

A method for applying a patch to a spacer discontinuity or other seal breach includes the step of applying pressure to the patch during the application of the patch to cause sealant carried by the patch to be injected into the spacer discontinuity. This step can be performed with or without the application of heat. Pressure is applied to the patch long enough to position the sealant entirely across the gap between the lites such that the sealant wets out against both interior glass surfaces. Pressure is also applied to the patch long enough to inject sealant into openings defining the discontinuity. A sealant is then applied over the entire patch. The structure of the patch and the patched IG unit are provided.

A conveyor belt for use in applying sealant to an elongated spacer frame and a method of use. The conveyor belt comprising a reversible belt rotatably attached to first and second pulleys. The reversible belt having a first perimeter length. The reversible belt is removably attached to the first and second pulleys. A first side and a second side of the replacement belt include first and second adhesive resistant materials. The first and second adhesive resistant materials are separated by an elastic support layer, wherein the first perimeter length is shorter than a second perimeter length measured about the rotation path of the first and second pulleys. The elastic support layer applies a force to first and second pulleys such that the reversible belt does not slip relative to the first and second pulleys.

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to edge sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to techniques for providing localized heating to edge seals of units, and/or unitized ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a unit is pre-heated to one or more intermediate temperatures, localized heating via at least one substantially two-dimensional array of heat sources is provided proximate to the peripheral edges of the unit so as to melt frits placed thereon, and cooled. In certain non-limiting implementations, the pre-heating and/or cooling may be provided in one or more steps. An oven for accomplishing the same may include multiple zones for performing the above-noted steps, each zone optionally including one or more chambers. Accordingly, in certain example embodiments, a temperature gradient proximate to the edges of the unit is created, thereby reducing the chances of breakage and/or at least some de-tempering of the substrates.

Provided are a method for manufacturing a vacuum insulation glass panel and a device for closing a sealing cap, the method and the device being for exhausting air between two glass panels and sealing the same. The method for manufacturing a vacuum insulation glass panel, according to the present invention, heats the glass solder applied on the sealing cap before being put into a vacuum chamber, and then presses, by the operation of the elevating device, the sealing cap put into the vacuum chamber so as to join the sealing cap around the exhaust hole. The holder having the sealing cap is mounted in the clamping unit, and then the clamping unit is clamped to the glass panel assembly, thereby enabling the exhaust hole to be accurately closed with the sealing cap.