Spacer Profile Application Machine for Insulating Glass Units
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for applying spacer profiles on glass sheets suffer from discontinuities and functional irregularities in the application of thermoplastic sealants, particularly at corners and during transitions, leading to aesthetic and functional issues in insulating glazing units.
Innovation Solution
A machine and method that independently modulate the extrusion of thermoplastic sealant 6 onto the spacer profile's recesses, allowing uninterrupted extrusion along the perimeter of the insulating glazing unit, decoupling the extrusion process from the application process, and using a compensation assembly to manage flow discrepancies, ensuring continuous extrusion during the production of multiple panels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If thermoplastic sealant is applied to spacer profile recesses before applying the profile to the glass sheet, then the sealant has time to flow and distribute, but discontinuities and functional irregularities occur at corners and during transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The thermoplastic sealant is extruded onto the spacer profile recesses in advance, before the profile is applied to the glass sheet. This preliminary action allows the sealant to be positioned correctly on the profile, and then the profile is immediately pressed onto the glass sheet to prevent the sealant from flowing excessively or creating discontinuities at corners and transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer profile acts as an intermediary carrier for the thermoplastic sealant. The sealant is first applied to the profile's recesses, which protect and position the sealant, and then the entire assembly (profile with sealant) is applied to the glass sheet. This intermediary approach ensures continuous and uniform sealant distribution without direct application to the glass sheet, avoiding discontinuities at corners and transitions.
2Device complexity
If the extrusion of thermoplastic sealant is coupled with the application process, then the process is simpler, but discontinuities occur at corners and during transitions between panels
Solution Approach 1:
The process is segmented into two independent stages: (1) extrusion of thermoplastic sealant onto the spacer profile recesses, and (2) application of the spacer profile to the glass sheet. This segmentation allows the extrusion to occur continuously along the perimeter without interruption at corners or transitions, while the application process follows separately, ensuring sealant continuity without requiring complex coordinated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermoplastic sealant is extruded onto the spacer profile recesses in advance, before the profile is applied to the glass sheet. This preliminary extrusion action ensures continuous sealant supply along the entire perimeter, including corners and transitions, without interruption. The profile is then applied to the glass sheet, transferring the pre-positioned sealant uniformly without discontinuities.
3Ease of operation
If manual application of spacer profile is used, then flexibility in handling is improved, but discontinuities and functional irregularities in sealant application occur
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer profile is designed with built-in recesses that automatically receive and hold the thermoplastic sealant during extrusion. The profile structure itself serves as the containment and distribution system for the sealant, eliminating the need for separate manual application steps. This self-service approach ensures uniform sealant distribution and continuity at corners and transitions while maintaining ease of operation through the simple profile design.
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 results in a superior, aesthetically pleasing and functionally reliable application of the spacer profile, enhancing the sealing properties and reducing the complexity of controlling sealant distribution, thereby improving the overall quality of the insulating glazing units.
Implementation Method 1
the bond with the glass sheet, which becomes instantaneous because it is due to the acrylic adhesive 5
Implementation Method 2
the traditional thermoplastic sealant 6, which is subject to flow until the second cold sealant described hereinafter catalyzes
Data Source
Figure 1A~1F
Figure 1G~1J
Figure 2
AI summary
An automatic machine and an automatic method for the application of a spacer profile (3), preferably made of expanded synthetic material, on a glass sheet (2) in order to compose the insulating glazing unit (1), after extrusion of a thermoplastic sealant (6) on a portion of each one of its faces designed for mating. The process for extrusion of the sealant (6) on the profile (3) is independent of the process for applying the profile (3) on the glass sheet (2), so that therefore each one of the two processes can be performed by using its optimum parameters.