Laminated Glazing Printing Robot Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing laminated glazing, such as motor vehicle windshields, face challenges in hiding functional layers and bus bars from view while preventing damage during the screen printing process, particularly due to incompatibility with conveyor belts and risk of scratching or tearing.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a robot with one or more printing heads is used to screen print a second pattern on the face of the second glass sheet opposite the first glass sheet, allowing for precise positioning and printing before bending, thus avoiding contact and potential damage to the functional layers and bus bars, and ensuring quality control before the sheets are placed in a bending furnace.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screen printing is performed on the face of the second glass sheet with functional layers and bus bars, then the functional layers and bus bars can be concealed from view, but the conveyor belt or support contact may scratch, tear, or damage the fragile functional layers and bus bars

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcealment of functional layers and bus barsVSAvoiddamage to functional layers and bus bars

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of printing on the face containing the fragile functional layers and bus bars (face 3), the invention inverts the approach by printing on the opposite face (face 2). This allows the same concealment function to be achieved without the harmful contact between conveyor belts and fragile elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention moves the printing operation to another dimension - from the fragile face 3 to the robust face 2 of the glass sheet. This dimensional shift allows the printing function to be performed on a surface that can withstand conveyor belt contact while still achieving the desired visual concealment through the glass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional screen printing methods are used with conveyor belts, then printing can be performed on flat substrates, but the fragile functional layers and bus bars cannot withstand contact with the conveyor belt or support

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen printing on flat substrateVSAvoidfragility of functional layers and bus bars

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts which face receives the printing treatment - instead of printing on the fragile face 3 where functional layers exist, it prints on the robust face 2. This maintains the screen printing manufacturing process while eliminating the strength issue by moving the printing to a surface that can withstand conveyor belt contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Illumination intensity

If the first printed pattern is applied on face 2 to conceal elements from outside view, then external visibility is improved, but additional printing on face 4 is needed to conceal elements from inside view, increasing process complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcealment from outside viewVSAvoidprinting process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by printing on face 2 specifically in areas where external concealment is needed, and separately on face 4 where internal concealment is required. Each printing operation is localized to the specific face and area needed for that viewing direction, optimizing the concealment function without unnecessary complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3515705B1Process for printing on an exterior surface of a laminated glazing

Publication Date: 2023.08.30 SAINT GOBAIN VITRAGE SA

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to 1) a method for manufacturing a laminated glazing (1) comprising a first and a second sheet of glass (2; 3) which are bonded together by an adhesive interlayer (4), the face of the first sheet of glass (2) that faces toward the second (3) comprising a first printed pattern (5); in which method - the position of said first printed pattern (5) is measured using a camera; - a printing robot is positioned in a printing station relative to the measurement of the position of the first printed pattern (5) and a second printed pattern (6) is printed on the opposite face of the second sheet of glass (3) from the first (2); and - the sheets of glass (2; 3) are set down in a bending oven; 2) this laminated glazing (1).