Apparatus for processing sealant of an insulating glass unit

Abstract

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.

1 . An apparatus for applying energy to sealant of an insulating glass unit, comprising:
 a) a detector that detects an optical property of said insulating glass unit;   b) an energy source that applies energy to said insulating glass unit to apply energy to said sealant;   c) a conveyor that moves said insulating glass unit with respect to said energy source; and   d) a controller coupled to said detector that adjusts an amount of energy applied by said energy source to said insulating glass unit in response to said detected optical property.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said detector is a transmittance detector. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said detector is a reflectivity detector. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said detector is a bar code reader that scans a bar-code that identifies glass type used in the insulating glass unit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said energy source comprises a plurality of lamps, said controller adjusts said energy applied by changing a number of said lamps that supply energy to said insulating glass unit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said controller changes a speed of said conveyor to adjust an amount of energy applied to said sealant. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said energy source comprises a plurality of lamps, said controller adjusts said energy applied to said sealant by adjusting an intensity of one or more of said lamps. 
     
     
         8 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for heating sealant of an insulating glass unit, comprising:
 a) a detector that detects an optical property of said insulating glass unit;   b) first and second arrays of infrared lamps;   c) a conveyor that defines a path of travel of said insulating glass unit between said first and second arrays of infrared lamps; and   d) a controller coupled to said detector and said first and second arrays of infrared lamps that changes a number of lamps in said first and second arrays that supply energy to said insulating glass unit to adjust an amount of energy supplied to said insulating glass unit in response to said detected optical property to heat said sealant of said insulating glass unit.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said detector is a transmittance detector. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said detector is a reflectivity detector. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said detector is a bar code reader that scans a bar-code that identifies an optical property of said insulating glass unit. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said first array of lamps is controlled independently of said second array of lamps. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein a number of activated lamps in said first array is different than a number of lamps activated in said second array. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein a number of activated lamps in said first array is different than a number of lamps activated in said second array when the detected optical property of a first pane of glass of said insulating glass unit is different than the detected optical property of a second pane of glass of the insulating glass unit. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a third array of infrared lamps positioned adjacent to said first array and a fourth array of infrared lamps positioned adjacent to said second array, wherein said third array operates in unison with said first array and said fourth array operates in unison with said second array when an insulating glass unit passes between said first and second arrays and said third and fourth arrays. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said detector detects an optical property of a first pane of said insulating glass unit is detected and an said controller changes a number of lamps of said first array that supply energy in response to said detected optical property of said first pane and said detector detects an optical property of a second pane of said insulating glass unit is and said controller changes a number of lamps of said second array that supply energy in response to said detected optical property of said second pane. 
     
     
         23 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A press for an insulating glass unit, comprising:
 a) a displacement transducer configured to measure a pre-pressed thickness of an insulating glass unit;   b) a controller coupled to said displacement transducer that is programmed to compare the measured thickness with a set of ranges of pre-pressed thicknesses that correspond to a set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses and select one thickness from the set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses that corresponds to the measured pre-pressed thickness; and   c) pressing members coupled to the controller that are spaced apart by a distance controlled by said controller, said controller being programmed to set said distance between said pressing members to said one selected insulating glass unit pressed thickness.   
     
     
         30 . The press of  claim 29  wherein said displacement transducer is positioned along a path of travel before reaching an oven that heats sealant of said insulating glass unit. 
     
     
         31 . The press of  claim 29  wherein said displacement transducer is a linear variable differential transformer displacement transducer. 
     
     
         32 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus for use in the construction of insulating glass units, comprising:
 a) a detector that detects an optical property of said insulating glass unit;   b) a displacement transducer configured to measure a pre-pressed thickness of said insulating glass unit;   b) first and second arrays of infrared lamps;   c) a conveyor that defines a path of travel of said insulating glass unit between said first and second arrays of infrared lamps;   d) a pair of rollers spaced apart by a controllable distance; and   e) a controller coupled to said detector, displacement transducer, said first and second arrays of infrared lamps and said pair of rollers, said controller is programmed to change a number of lamps in said first and second arrays that supply energy to said insulating glass unit in response to said detected optical property, to compare the measured thickness with a set of ranges of pre-pressed thicknesses that correspond to a set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses and select one thickness from the set of insulating glass unit pressed thicknesses that corresponds to the measured pre-pressed thickness, and to adjust said distance between said rollers to the selected one insulating glass unit pressed thickness.   
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for applying energy to sealant of an insulating glass unit, comprising:
 a) a bar code reader that reads information on a bar code that identifies a type of glass used in the insulating glass unit;   b) an energy source that applies energy to said insulating glass unit to apply energy to said sealant;   c) a conveyor that moves said insulating glass unit with respect to said energy source; and,   d) a controller coupled to said bar code reader that adjusts an amount of energy applied by said energy source to said insulating glass unit in response to the type of glass used in the insulating glass unit.   
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A press for an insulating glass unit, comprising:
 a) a bar code reader that reads information on a bar code that identifies a pressed thickness of an insulating glass unit;   b) a controller coupled to said bar code reader; and,   c) pressing members coupled to the controller that are spaced apart by a distance controlled by said controller, said controller being programmed to set said distance between said pressing members to said pressed thickness identified by said bar code.