Glass Spacer Insulated Glazing Assembly With Plasma UV Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual application of glass spacers in insulated glazing for refrigerated display cabinets is inefficient, costly, and prone to adhesive detachment due to material expansion differences, leading to precision and planarity issues.
Innovation Solution
An automated method and device using plasma and photopolymerization adhesive application, combined with UV irradiation, to securely bond glass spacers to glass sheets, ensuring precise and efficient assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic spacer strips are used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but adhesive detachment occurs due to different coefficient of dilatation between plastic and glass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses glass spacer strips instead of plastic strips, ensuring homogeneous material composition (glass-to-glass bonding) throughout the insulating glass assembly. This eliminates the coefficient of dilatation mismatch between dissimilar materials, preventing adhesive detachment while maintaining structural integrity and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If manual application method is used, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but precision and time efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical application process with an automated system that uses a moving lamp and controlled adhesive dispensing mechanism. This substitution maintains operational flexibility through programmable movement while dramatically improving precision in adhesive application and UV curing, eliminating manual handling errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the adhesive agent and activates it with UV radiation in a predetermined sequence using an automated moving lamp system. The lamp moves along the glass surface, applying adhesive and curing it in advance before the spacer strip is fully positioned, ensuring precise bonding without manual intervention.
3Loss of time
If dot-like or reduced segment UV lamp is used, then treatment time is reduced, but exposure uniformity deteriorates due to manual process limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a moving UV lamp that dynamically traverses the entire length of the glass surface, continuously exposing the adhesive to UV radiation. This dynamic approach replaces static dot-like lamps, achieving uniform exposure across the entire bonding area while maintaining efficient treatment time through continuous motion and overlapping exposure zones.
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
The method and device provide a cost-effective, precise, and efficient automated process for bonding glass spacers, minimizing adhesive detachment and planarity defects, resulting in high-quality insulated glazing.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting on at least one side the edge of the first sheet to the simultaneous linear sequential application of plasma and photopolymerization adhesive agent in superimposed strips
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the interface between the glass strip and first sheet to ultraviolet radiation in a linear sequential fashion
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for the automated manufacture of insulated glazing with at least one vitreous spacer particularly for refrigerated display cabinets comprising the steps of: positioning a first glass sheet (1A) on a work surface (4); subjecting at least one side of the first sheet (1A) to simultaneous application of plasma and photopolymerization adhesive agent; retaining at least one glass spacer strip (2) until it is placed and pressed on the photopolymerization adhesive agent; subjecting the interface between the glass strip (2) and first sheet (1A) to the through-passing of ultraviolet radiation to pass through; pressing the glass strip (2) on the first sheet (1A); subjecting the opposite face of the strip (2) to the simultaneous application of plasma and photopolymerization adhesive agent; positioning and pressing a second glass sheet (1B) above the first glass sheet (1A) by interposing at least one glass spacer strip (2); subjecting the interface between the glass sheet (2) and second sheet (1B) to the through-passing of ultraviolet radiation; pressing the second sheet (1B) on the glass strip (2). Device for implementing the method comprising: a work surface (4) for glass sheets (1) provided with movable frame (7, 8) for supporting the kinematic mechanisms and actuators for the rotary and linear movements on the axes x, y and z of the operating tools; at least one first multifunctional tool (10) which can be movably adjusted on the axes x and y and which can be operatively moved on the axis z comprising in line on axis z a plasma generator and diffusor (11), a container and device for applying the photosensitive adhesive agent (12), an ultraviolet ray lamp(13); at least one second multifunctional tool (14) which can be rotated from a plane parallel to the work surface to a plane perpendicular to the work surface, which can be moved on axes x and y, consisting of a linear structure (14) extending on axis z comprising a first linear extension (14A) forming a linear seat for retaining and releasing a glass spacer strip (2) and applying pressure thereon on axis y and a second linear extension (14B) orthogonal to the first in a parallel fashion forming a linear pressing device for applying pressure on axis y above the second glass sheet (1B).