Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – With casting – plastic molding – or extruding means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-25
2001-06-26
Knable, Geoffrey L. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
With casting, plastic molding, or extruding means
C156S107000, C156S109000, C156S244220, C156S578000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250358
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for sealing the corners of insulated glass assemblies, in particular the invention relates to an apparatus and method suitable for use in manual and automated production.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Insulated windows comprise an assembly of multiple substrates (generally glass) in a spaced apart configuration with air or other insulating gas sealed in the void between the substrates. If the seal is broken, moisture can enter the assembly which condenses on the glass and clouds the window and also reduces its insulating properties.
A spacer around the periphery of the substrates maintains the substrates in the spaced apart configuration. Commonly a sealant material is applied around the perimeter of the assembly in the channel between the edges of the substrates and the spacer material to prevent the seal from breaking due to separation of the substrate from the spacer and to prevent penetration of moisture through the spacer. Examples of devices for sealing an assembly perimeter are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,547 issued to Lenhardt, and in a previous application to the present inventor under U.S. Ser. No. 08/694,666.
Some spacers, particularly those including polybutylene, or other butyl materials, or combinations of multiple sealant materials, particularly including polymeric materials such as polysilicones, EDPM, and polyurethanes, have been found to have excellent sealing properties in contact with the inner surfaces of the substrates without an additional layer of sealant material.
At the corners, however, the sealing and moisture barrier properties are reduced. Ends of the spacer are generally joined at the corners. In other cases the spacer is bent or folded to form a corner. It is preferred to cut or notch the spacer partially to form a square folded corner without bulging or wrinkling. At the cut, notch, or join additional sealant is preferably applied to maintain the integrity of the seal. For the greatest efficiently the sealant material must join with the spacer to form an airtight seal with the glass surfaces and the spacer material. Thermoplastic materials such as butyl materials are commonly used. In a preferred assembly the spacer and sealant are selected to be compatible to form a chemical bond between them. Since the entire perimeter of the glass assembly will not be filled with sealant material, the spacer can advantageously be placed dose to the edges of the assembly. The shallow channel between the spacer and the edge is used to spread sealant material in a smooth layer from the corner area. Significant savings in both time and material can be achieved if only the corners are to be sealed, particularly using an automated method and apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention comprises an apparatus for injecting sealant material into a corner of a glass assembly having at least two spaced substrates with a spacer there between, the apparatus having support means for supporting the glass assembly comprising:
a pair of cooperating wiper blocks each for abutting an edge of the glass assembly at a corner thereof, said blocks being mounted in angular relationship relative to each other,
nozzle means for injecting sealant material into a corner of a glass assembly arranged between the wiper blocks and adapted to retract from a corner of the glass assembly, and
actuation means for effecting relative reciprocal movement between said nozzle means and said corner of said glass assembly, and for effecting movement of said blocks from a first position for permitting injection of sealant material into a corner of said glass assembly, and a second position removed from said first position.
In an alternate embodiment, the wiper blocks may move in a reciprocating converging and diverging movement, or in a tandem movement. Further, securing means may retain the glass assembly in position and positioning means may position the corner of the assembly between the wiper blocks for the corner filling and wiping operation.
In an alternate embodiment, the present invention comprises an apparatus for injecting sealant material into a corner of a glass assembly including at least two substrates having corners aligned in spaced apart configuration by a spacer joining the peripheries of the substrates comprising:
support means for supporting the glass assembly in the apparatus;
positioning means for locating the corner of a glass assembly in the apparatus;
securing means for maintaining the glass assembly in position in the apparatus;
a cooperating pair of wiper blocks each having a surface for abutting an edge of the glass assembly arranged in angular configuration to each other, adapted for converging and diverging reciprocal movement from a first adjoining position for molding the injected sealant material into a substantially square corner, to a second separated position for wiping smooth the surface of the injected sealant material; and
nozzle means for injecting sealant material into a corner of a glass assembly arranged between the wiper blocks and adapted to retract from the corner of the glass assembly in concert with the converging movement of the wiper blocks.
In an alternate embodiment, the present invention comprises an automated sealant injection
station for sealing the corners of a glass assembly comprising:
a corner sealing station having means for sealing at least one corner of a trailing end of a first glass assembly located in a leading position at said station and means for sealing at least one corner of a leading end of a second glass assembly located in a trailing position, relative to said first glass assembly, at said station,
means for advancing a glass assembly into and out of said leading position of said corner sealing station and into and out of said trailing position of said corner sealing station,
multiple injection heads comprising a first pair of cooperating wiper blocks adapted for sealing at least one corner of the trailing edge of said glass assembly when said first glass assembly is in the leading position of said corner sealing station and a second pair of cooperating wiper blocks adapted for sealing at least one corner of the leading edge of said second glass assembly when said second glass assembly is in the trailing position at said corner sealing station,
positioning means for locating a corner of each glass assembly;
securing means for maintaining each of said first and second glass assemblies in position;
said wiper blocks each having a surface for abutting an edge of the glass assembly and each pair of wiper blocks being mounted in angular relationship relative to each other; and
nozzle means associated with each pair of cooperating wiper blocks for injecting sealant material into a corner of a glass assembly arranged between the wiper blocks, said nozzle means being retractable from a corner of the glass assembly, and
actuation means for effecting relative reciprocal movement between each of said nozzle means and a respective corner of said glass assembly, and for effecting movement of said blocks from a first position for permitting injection of sealant material into a corner of said glass assembly, and a second position removed from said first position.
In an alternate embodiment, the present invention comprises an automated sealant injection station for sealing the corners of a glass assembly comprising:
conveyor means for advancing a glass assembly into and out of the injection station;
multiple injection heads comprising:
positioning means for locating the corner of a glass assembly in the apparatus;
securing means for maintaining the glass assembly in position in the apparatus;
a cooperating pair of wiper blocks each having a surface for abutting an edge of the glass assembly arranged in angular configuration to each other, adapted for converging and diverging reciprocal movement from a first adjoining position for molding the injected sealant material into a substantially square corner, to a second separated position for wipi
Knable Geoffrey L.
McFadden, Finchan
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