Abstract: A dynamic insulated glass unit (IGU) assembly line scheduler is provided for production control of an IGU assembly line. When calculating the IGU assembly line order and controls, the scheduler evaluates at least i) a changeable set of uniquely identifiable glass lite storage loading locations adjacent a loading station, ii) a changeable set of uniquely identifiable IGU storage locations adjacent a unloading station, iii) a changeable identifiable subset of the set of uniquely identifiable IGU storage locations, and iv) a assembly line change outs to be performed at least in the production of the IGUs for the next in line set of IGUs to be shipped from the IGU assembly line. The scheduler is configured to re-evaluate the IGU assembly order at least with the filling of each next in line set of IGUs to be shipped.

Abstract: A glass production line comprises a style of lean manufacturing to solve many of the inefficiencies in the scheduling of orders through a glass plant. The main goal of the global scheduler of the present invention will be to dynamically adjust the flow of glass through a glass plant for maximum efficiency.

Abstract: An Insulated Glass (IG) line comprises a washer for washing lites; a spacer applicator for selectively attaching spacers to lites downstream of the washer; an assembler for coupling multiple lites with intervening spacer downstream of the spacer applicator; an unloading station for removing finished IGUs from the IG line downstream of the assembler; and a buffer storage unit upsteam of the washer and having i) at least one storage rack defining a plurality of lite storage locations, ii) a storage rack feeding unit configured to place lites into any storage location of each storage rack, and iii) a storage rack unloading unit configured to take lites from any storage location of each storage rack. The Insulated Glass (IG) line further includes a dynamic batch-less direct feed cutter upstream of the buffer storage unit.

Abstract: A dynamic insulated glass unit (IGU) assembly line scheduler is provided for production control of an insulated glass unit assembly line. When calculating the IGU assembly order and controls for the IGU assembly line, the scheduler is configured to evaluate at least i) a changeable set of uniquely identifiable glass lite storage loading locations adjacent the loading station, ii) the changeable set of uniquely identifiable IGU storage locations adjacent the unloading station, iii) the changeable identifiable subset of the set of uniquely identifiable IGU storage locations, and iv) the assembly line change outs to be performed on the IGU assembly line at least in the production of the IGUs for the next in line set of IGUs to be shipped from the IGU assembly line. The scheduler is configured to re-evaluate the IGU assembly order at least with the filling of each next in line set of IGUs to be shipped from the IGU assembly line.

Abstract: A glass production line comprising a cutting table, a tempering furnace having a loading station that includes a changeable set of uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations adjacent the loading station with each storage loading location receiving a work-piece therein for subsequent furnace processing, wherein a subset of the uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations is moved away from the loading station when it is emptied of furnace work-pieces and a new sub-set of uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations is moveable adjacent the loading station to provide the changeable set of uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations adjacent the loading station, and a dynamic optimizer coupled to the furnace for dynamically scheduling furnace layouts for glass work-pieces to be tempered, wherein the dynamic furnace optimizer is adapted to schedule work-pieces from uniquely identifiable work-piece storage loading locations not currently adjacent the unloa