Abstract: The apparatus joins two glass panels (4, 5) by injecting a strand of an initially pasty and subsequently solidifying compound along the edge of the pane into the intermediate space between the two initially unjoined glass panels. It has a horizontal conveyor, which has supporting or holding elements (6), which hold the glass panels (4, 5) parallel to each other and spaced apart, it being possible for the supporting or holding elements (6) acting on one of the glass panels (5) to be removed individually in sequence or in groups from said glass panel by an actuating device (7), thereby allowing a nozzle to be moved uninterruptedly between the two glass panels (4, 5) around the edge of the panel by an automatically operating handling apparatus (30), and wherein the nozzle can be swiveled about an axis running at a right angle to said panels.

Abstract: A sectional curved article e.g. an automotive window is made by cutting a piece of glass, shaping the piece of glass, cutting the shaped piece to provide inner and outer segments. The edges of the segments are seamed, and the segments chemically tempered to provide a sectional curved automotive window having an opening in the outer segment to receive the inner segment.

Abstract: A method of replacing damaged panels of a cladding system includes the use of a replacement panel. The replacement panel includes a sheet having a side hanger secured to a major surface of the sheet at each of opposed sides of the sheets and extending beyond their adjacent side of the sheet and a bottom hanger secured to the major surface of the sheet adjacent bottom edge of the sheet and having an exterior facing groove. After the damaged panel is removed, an opening is provided defined by the top hanger of the removed panel, vertical splines and a horizontal spline. The exterior groove of the bottom hanger is mounted on the horizontal spline and the panel tilted in position against adhesive provided on outer surface of top hanger. Extending portions of the side hangers are screw fastened to underlying ones of the vertical splines. Thereafter, the space between the previously installed panel and replacement panel is filled with a layer of silicone.

Abstract: This invention relates to a curtainwall system having panels mounted on a grid formed of vertical and horizontal mullions having a planar or flat exterior surface. Each of the panels is provided with a frame formed of hanger sections having a groove facing the interior of the frame. A panel engaging clip has one end inserted in the groove of the hanger frame and the other portion of the clip secured to the grid. The clip urges the hanger against the weatherstripping of the grid to provide an air and dust tight seal. A polyurethane block is mounted in the space between adjacent panels and thereafter a silicone is extruded into the space.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bilayer or antilacerative windshield comprised of a rigid substrate and an innerliner, including the steps of producing a hole in the innerliner, assembling the rigid substrate and the innerliner together in interfacial relation to each other, and then placing an insert into the hole. Thereafter, the rigid substrate and the innerliner are laminated together to thereby provide the antilacerative windshield, the insert serving to prevent flow of the innerliner into the hole during the laminating step. After the laminating step is completed, the insert is removed from the hole, to thereby open the hole to expose the adjacent surface of the rigid substrate. The mounting pad or "button" of a rear view mirror is then affixed to the exposed surface of the rigid substrate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shipping facility including at least one cargo supporting structure mounted for easy, sliding movement on a receiving structure disposed within the cargo bay of a cargo transport vehicle preferably adapted for side and/or rear loading and unloading, wherein the at least one cargo supporting structure and the cargo held thereby is secured, during transport thereof, by conventional retaining facilities to minimize and dampen the lateral, longitudinal, oscillatory and random transportation forces which act upon the cargo during the transport thereof. The at least one cargo supporting structure is adapted for easy slidable/rollable movement along said receiving structure between an operating position within a shipment area of the cargo bay and a non-operating position within a storage area of the cargo bay for thereby freeing the shipment area for shipment of any type of cargo which it is normally capable of holding, after the original cargo has been unloaded, and vice versa.

Abstract: A sloped glazing system for a building or the like includes a plurality of rafters and purlins interconnected together to form a framing grid, and further includes a plurality of glazing panels secured to the framing grid in covering relation to the glazing openings. The framing grid is attached to the building in a manner such that the framing grid subtends an oblique angle with respect to the horizontal plane of the building. Each glazing panel has a hanger frame mounted to its inner major surface. Each hanger frame includes a plurality of hanger sections mounted to the inner major surface of the associated glazing panel adjacent to a corresponding plurality of panel side edges. Spanning facilities are provided in bridging relation to immediately adjacent ones of the hanger sections mounted to adjacent ones of the panels. The spanning facilities are attached to the framing grid to thereby secure the panels to the framing grid.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a checking fixture having an article supporting surface having a contour representative of the desired/ideal peripheral marginal edge contour of a contoured article to be inspected, such as a bent glass sheet, e.g. an automotive lite. The article is supported by the article supporting surface of the fixture. The apparatus further includes position-sensing facilities, e.g. a linear potentiometer, and facilitates, e.g. a robot, for moving the potentiometer about the periphery of the article to be inspected, to generate a plurality of signals indicative of the gap between a plurality of predetermined points around the marginal edge periphery of the article supporting surface and a corresponding plurality of points around the marginal edge periphery of the article. The apparatus further preferably includes a computer or the like for processing the generated signals to provide information about the contour characteristics of the article, e.g. bend, sag, kink, or the like.

Abstract: A positioning or displacement apparatus includes a first member having a first engaging facility and a second member having a plurality of second engaging facilities, wherein the first and second members are relatively movable between a first position wherein a first selected one of the second engaging facilities is engaged with the first engaging facility. The second member is preferably linearly displaceable by disengaging the first selected one of the second engaging facilities, and then engaging a second selected one of the second engaging facilities with the first engaging facility.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of detecting and signifying the presence or absence of a product identity mark or the like on a transparent sheet includes detecting facilities having a first part including light transmitting facilities and a second part including light detecting facilities, the first and the second parts mutually spaced apart from a predetermined portion of the sheet that should have the product identity mark applied thereto. If the mark is present at least a portion of light transmitted by the light transmitting facilities will be interrupted by the mark and prevented from reaching the light detecting facilities. Signalling facilities functionally connected to the light detecting facilities generate a "yes" signal when the light detected by the detecting facilities is above a predetermined level and a "no" signal otherwise.

Abstract: Surface inhomogeneities of a piece of glass are detected by disposing the glass piece in interfacial relation to an optical medium and reflecting light at a predetermined angle of incidence from the glass surface - optical medium interface along a scan path, through at least a portion of the optical medium. The optical medium is selected to have a refractive index equal to the bulk refractive index of the piece of glass. The intensity of the light reflected from the glass along the scan path is monitored to indicate surface inhomogeneities and the location thereof on the glass surface.

Abstract: A method of replacing damaged panels of a cladding system includes the use of a replacement panel. The replacement panel includes a sheet having a side hanger secured to a major surface of the sheet at each of opposed sides of the sheets and extending beyond their adjacent side of the sheet and a bottom hanger secured to the major surface of the sheet adjacent bottom edge of the sheet and having an exterior facing groove. After the damaged panel is removed, an opening is provided defined by the top hanger of the removed panel, vertical splines and a horizontal spline. The exterior groove of the bottom hanger is mounted on the horizontal spline and the panel tilted in position against adhesive provided on outer surface of top hanger. Extending portions of the side hangers are screw fastened to underlying ones of the vertical splines. Thereafter, the space between the previously installed panel and replacement panel is filled with a layer of silicone.

Abstract: A device for dissipating static charge collected on the surface of a laminated aircraft window having an outboard plastic ply includes a plurality of electroconductive static charge collecting wicks extending through the thickness of the outboard ply from the outboard surface of the ply to its inboard surface where the wicks are interconnected by wire runs adapted for connection to ground. The device may be laminated to additional transparent structural plies to form a composite aircraft transparency. The device is advantageously used to protect heating facilities in a composite transparency from static discharge damage, as well as to prevent damage to the plies of the transparency from static discharge through the plies.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for inspecting reflective coatings on a substrate using a polaroid filter to view light reflected from the coating to make variations in coating thickness over a large coated area visible.

Abstract: A conveyor section advances a ribbon into a cutting station where sheets are severed from the glass ribbon. The sheets are advanced onto downstream conveyor rolls where the sheet is accelerated for a given period of time to space the trailing edge of the sheet from the leading edge of the ribbon, i.e., leading edge of the next sheet to be severed from the ribbon. When a predetermined number of spaced sheets are on the conveyor rolls, the conveyor rolls are accelerated to a speed greater than the ribbon conveying speed and spacing speed to move the group of sheets downstream along the conveyor section into additional working stations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for soldering by means of an industrial robot is disclosed. The apparatus includes a soldering head end effector having retractable continuity sensing probes. The soldering head is particularly adapted to solder metal connector braids onto fused silver ceramic frit bus bars which are associated with the heating elements of defogging automobile back lights. The method includes positioning the work piece sensing the alignment of the bus bar and braid, controlling the robot to its starting position, controlling the robot soldering heat to subsequent preprogrammed soldering positions, holding the connector braid onto the bus bar and soldering the work piece.

Abstract: An edge grinder includes a shaft for supporting a glass sheet template in spaced relationship to one another. The template and glass sheet are rotated about a sheet axis of rotation and a grinding wheel is rotated about a wheel axis of rotation. The grinding wheel and a template follower spaced from the grinding wheel are biased against the glass sheet and template respectively, to shape the glass sheet to a desired contour as defined by the template. As the grinding wheel engages varying edge damage and/or increased peripheral rotational speed of the sheet, the load on the motor powering the grinding wheel varies as indicated by current input to the grinding wheel motor. Variations in the current input are responded to by selectively varying the rotational speed of the sheet. In this manner, a uniform rate of material removal is maintained to eliminate overheating of the glass edge and grinding wheel during shaping of the glass sheet.

Abstract: A reusable shipping container for frangible sheets and the like having a three part telescoping base adjustable in length and a pair of three part telescoping transverse sheet support frames adjustable in height removably attached to the ends of the base wherein the container is unitized using flexible banding straps having load bearing loops for lifting the container. The container also provides removable caster wheels and sheet edge contacting separator strips. The container is particularly adapted for shipping, storing and unloading large multiple glazed window units of the type used in large commercial buildings. A method of unloading a container in which one of the transverse sheet support frames is moved from an end position on the base to a position nearer the other transverse support frame is also disclosed.

Abstract: Reverse contour changes, e.g., changes from a convex peripheral portion to concave peripheral portion are scored in a glass sheet by moving the glass sheet along an X-Y axes while pivoting a scoring wheel housing about an axis transverse to the first and second axes so as to positively rotate the housing in response to contour changes.Further, a pattern cutter includes a sheet support which is mounted for movement along X and Y axes and about a pivoting Z axis relative to a stationary scoring wheel so as to positively control the scoring of the glass sheet during changes from convex portions to concave portions.

Abstract: Bulb edges are severed from a glass sheet. At least one score is imposed along and adjacent to the bulb edge, and the scores are sequentially opened by mechanically running the score. A pair of powered and jointly actuated, simultaneously moving cylindrical mandrels apply torque about the trailing end of the score line to sever the sheet. The lower mandrel moves in an upward direction beneath the sheet while the upper mandrel moves through an arcuate path down and toward the bulb edge. A method of severing bulb edges from a glass sheet is also disclosed in which the scores are opened by applying torque about the score line on the upper and lower edges of the trailing end of a glass sheet.