Glass Panel Spacer Disposition Before Cutting
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional glass panel unit manufacturing requires a troublesome process of positioning spacers on each cut glass panel, which is inefficient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A manufacturing method and apparatus that includes a spacer disposition step before the cutting step, where spacers are placed onto the glass sheet during the production process, allowing for continuous production and eliminating the need for individual spacer placement on each cut panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If spacers are disposed on each cut glass panel individually, then the glass panel unit can be assembled with proper spacing, but the manufacturing process becomes troublesome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is disposed on the glass sheet before the cutting step, rather than on each cut glass panel individually. This preliminary action integrates spacer placement into the glass sheet production process, eliminating the need for repeated spacer positioning operations and significantly reducing manufacturing time while maintaining positioning accuracy through the continuous production line
2Ease of manufacture
If spacers are disposed after cutting, then each glass panel can be processed independently, but the process requires individual spacer placement for each panel
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer disposition step is merged with the glass sheet production process by performing spacer placement before cutting. This combines what were previously separate operations (glass sheet production and spacer placement) into a single integrated continuous process, improving productivity while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized procedure
3Manufacturing precision
If individual spacer placement is performed on each cut panel, then positioning can be adjusted for each panel, but the overall process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The glass sheet production line is made universal by integrating spacer disposition into the continuous production process. The same production line that manufactures glass sheets also performs spacer placement before cutting, eliminating the need for separate spacer positioning equipment and procedures for each panel, thus reducing process complexity while maintaining precision through standardized positioning
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the manufacturing process by integrating spacer placement into the glass sheet production, reducing the complexity and time required for assembling the glass panel unit by positioning spacers before cutting, thus streamlining the production process.
Implementation Method 1
a melting step, which is a step of melting a raw material of glass to produce melted glass
Implementation Method 2
a spreading step, which is a step of spreading the melted glass onto melted metal to produce a glass sheet
Implementation Method 3
an annealing step, which is a step of pulling out and annealing the glass sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A manufacturing method of a glass panel for a glass panel unit includes a melting step, a spreading step, an annealing step, a cutting step, and a spacer disposition step. The spacer disposition step is a step of disposing spacers onto a glass sheet and is performed by a spacer disposition device prior to the cutting step.