Vacuum Glazing Support Separation With Single-Granule Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for separating granular supports in vacuum insulated glazing are inefficient due to air flow affecting accuracy, leading to unwanted granules on the glazing surface, increasing inspection costs and prolonging production cycles.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a base, vibrator, separation chamber assembly, actuator, and feed tube, where the actuator makes reciprocating movements to accurately separate and arrange supports, utilizing a sensor to ensure only one support is placed at a time, and a system for arranging supports on a glazing surface with a transmission section and control mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If compressed air is used to send granules through the feed tube, then the granules can be transported to the glazing surface, but the air flow affects separation accuracy causing unwanted granules on the glazing surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegranule transportationVSAvoidseparation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful compressed air flow is completely removed from the system. Instead, the patent uses a mechanical separation chamber with a vibrating screen and gravity-fed discharge mechanism to transport granules without any gas flow, thereby eliminating the source of separation inaccuracies while maintaining transportation functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A mechanical intermediary system consisting of a vibrating screen and gravity-fed discharge mechanism is introduced between the granule source and the glazing surface. This intermediary replaces the harmful compressed air with a controlled mechanical transport system that maintains separation accuracy throughout the transportation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If inspection and additional arrangement of supports are performed to remove unwanted granules, then the quality of glazing surface is improved, but the production cycle is lengthened and production efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglazing surface qualityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The separation process is performed preliminarily and correctly the first time through improved mechanical separation in the separation chamber. By ensuring accurate separation before granules reach the glazing surface, the need for subsequent inspection and re-arrangement operations is eliminated, thereby maintaining high surface quality while preserving production efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The separation system is designed to be self-correcting and self-regulating through the vibrating screen mechanism and gravity-fed discharge. The system automatically ensures proper granule separation and placement without requiring external inspection or intervention, thereby eliminating wasted time and maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple inspection and re-arrangement operations are performed, then unwanted supports are removed, but the inspection cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport placement accuracyVSAvoidinspection cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of granule misplacement into a benefit by designing a separation chamber with a vibrating screen and controlled discharge mechanism that proactively prevents misplacement from occurring in the first place. This preventive approach transforms what would have been a costly inspection and correction problem into a simple, low-cost mechanical separation solution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution enhances the accuracy and efficiency of support separation and arrangement, reducing unwanted granules and production costs by ensuring precise placement of supports, thus improving production efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a vibrator (11), a separation chamber assembly (7)... The vibrator is provided on the separation chamber assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

The separation chamber assembly is inclinedly arranged with respect to a horizontal plane... the accommodation cavity is communicated with the dispensing outlet via the recess of the separation actuator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4137427B1Device for separately arranging supports for vacuum insulated glazing, and method
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 LUOYANG LANDGLASS TECH CO LTD
  • EP4137427B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4137427B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4137427B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Provided is a device for separately arranging supports for vacuum insulated glazing and a method. The device for separately arranging supports for vacuum insulated glazing includes a base (1), a vibrator (11), a separation chamber assembly (7), a separation actuator, a feed tube (8), and a drive device. The drive device is provided at a side of the base and connected to the separation actuator, and the separation chamber assembly, the separation actuator, and the feed tube are provided at another side of the base. The vibrator is provided on the separation chamber assembly. The separation chamber assembly is provided with a feed inlet, an accommodation cavity, and a dispensing outlet. The feed inlet is communicated with the accommodation cavity. The dispensing outlet is communicated with the feed tube. The separation chamber assembly is inclinedly arranged with respect to a horizontal plane. The separation actuator passes through the separation chamber assembly, and is provided at a lower portion of the accommodation cavity in a reciprocatingly movable manner. An upper edge of the separation actuator at a side close to the dispensing outlet is provided with a recess capable of accommodating one support. During reciprocating movements of the separator actuator, the accommodation cavity is communicated with the dispensing outlet via the recess of the separation actuator. When the device is arranging supports, one reciprocating movement of the separation actuator can only transport one support, thereby eliminating the case in which multiple supports are arranged in one operation.