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.

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.

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.

Provided is an apparatus for manufacturing a multi-pane glass unit. The apparatus includes: a first plate configured to hold a first glass pane; a second plate configured to hold a second glass pane such that the second glass pane faces the first glass pane; and a conveyer including a first portion configured to convey the first glass pane onto the first plate and a second portion configured to convey the second glass onto the second plate.

The invention relates to a method of providing vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units each comprising at least a first and a second glass pane and a plurality of support pillars distributed between opposing surfaces of said glass panes to provide a gap (8) between the glass panes. A plurality of pane elements are provided, and individual topographic representations (TOPREP_2a-TOPREP_2n) of each of said plurality of pane elements (2a-2n) are obtained based on input (4) from a measuring arrangement (3), and the topographic representations are stored in a data storage (DS). The stored topographic representations are processed and resulting surface distance characteristic between pairs of panes are estimated. Vacuum insulating glass (VIG) assemblies are thus provided based on estimated resulting surface distance characteristics. The invention additionally relates to a system for providing manufacturing layouts and a manufacturing facility.

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.

The glass panel unit is a predetermined part separated from a completed assembly obtained by subjecting a temporary assembly to a predetermined process. In the temporary assembly, the inside space (500) enclosed by the first and second glass substrates and the frame is divided into the first space and the second space with the partition and the gas adsorbent is inside the first space. The predetermined process includes: converting the first space into the evacuated space by evacuating the first space through the gas passage, the second space, and the outlet; and changing a shape of the partition to close the gas passage to form the seal enclosing the evacuated space. The predetermined part includes: a first and second glass panels being parts of the first and second glass substrates; the seal; the evacuated space; and the gas adsorbent.

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a vacuum insulated glazing wherein the glazing is assembled in a single stage by supplying glass panes, metallic spacers and corner and frame metallic seal elements which are brazed onto adhesion layers previously deposited onto the edge region areas of the glass panes.

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.